Intense performance from the Tavistock boys
Exeter’s Cavern is a gem of a venue for up-and-coming rockers and those on the return trail, like tonight’s local heroes Rumble Strips. It’s one of those curious places that appear half-empty one minute, but blink and the place has filled to capacity with fans. Which is a very, very good sign.
“Hi. Hello. I’m the support for tonight,” a chap with an acoustic guitar slung around his shoulders stammers into the mic. Eugene McGuinness manages to fill a creditable space on the dance floor with friends, fans, and the mildly curious. Just a shame his guitar sounded so terribly out of tune at times, because the guitar sound had a terrific vibe and fullness for a soloist. His vocals were hit-and-miss as well, one minute holding notes like Morrissey, the next a swooping falsetto and some decidedly precariously high notes. It was almost worth saluting the attempt. His own songs are bouncy and catchy enough, but it’s a Strokes cover that wins the evening for him. And bonus points for working in lyrics like “hammer headed shark” and “couldn’t give a flying f…” McGuinness is an inventive writer, but the performance could do with a bit of work.
With a jaunty “Y’alright??” Rumble Strips launch their far more polished and bulkier sound, complete with a saxophonist and trumpet player who do their best impression of a full-blown brass band. The dance floor has filled to capacity, and Rumble Strips know this is their crowd, as they power through a selection of new songs and fan favourites. Newie ‘London’ is a powerful constant thud of drums that almost sounds timeless, even though it’s only their latest single.
We’re also treated to ‘Girls and Boys In Love’ (best known from the film ‘Run, Fat Boy, Run’), which gets a fantastic reaction from the audience. We also get the defiant ‘Motorcycle’, the slightly darker ‘No Soul’, and the dreamy ‘Clouds’, as well as the “beep beep” that hails ‘Alarm Clock’. There are also a few newer songs scattered in, without much introduction, such as ‘Daniel’ (I could be wrong about the title there).
Singer Charlie Waller’s eyes are glazed in intense concentration, and almost constantly fixed on the back wall. The energy on the stage is a constant buzz and whirl between instruments and people. When Waller sings about leaving for the city, running away, and dreaming of a new life, he takes the crowd with him in the daydream.
These guys prove that they can produce an intense yet inviting sound for such an intimate venue, and they thrive on the crowd reaction. Having already played the sweet mellow strum of ‘Building A Boat’, they seem amused when a lone voice demands it replayed as an encore, accompanied by giggles from the folks around him. But they do play a blinding encore, by popular demand. And then as abruptly as it started, it’s all over. And the world’s a better place for having these songs.