Review: O Children and The Chapman Family @ The Ruby Lounge, Manchester

Date: 15th March 2011

Reviewed by: Miz DeShannon

I think the most striking thing about O Children is their singer, Toby. At what seemed to be ten foot tall, towering over Gauthier (guitar) and Harry (bass) he dominates the stage, snaking and whipping around like Freddie Mercury minus the camp-ness.

The London-based 4-piece (also included is drummer Sleth) play what could be described as dark pop; songs like 'Ezekiel Son' and 'Dead Disco Dancer' echoed that moody monotone vocal vibe of goth-inspired bands such as The Damned or early Depeche Mode. Not heavy enough to be rock, not fast enough to be punk, and lacking in catchy ditties like chart-breaking indie.

'PT Cruiser' had a hooky bass intro, but by the time we got half way through their 9 song set and 'Pray The Soul Away' I was seriously wondering whether the music was doing anything for me, or whether it was yet another case of style over substance. There was some twangy guitar a la 'every major indie band of the moment' thrown in here and there, but mainly songs were full of not a lot more than heavy bass with a low vocal, sometimes so low you had to move away from the blast of the venue's super-strong speakers to pick it out at all.

Despite there being no stand out hooks or melodies, in what I'd been told was a set of fairly new songs for the band compared to what they usually play, things perked up around 'Heels'; one of the singles from album Deadly People. By the end of the set and the band's other single 'Ruins', something likeable had emerged from the dirge. There was a consistency and confidence in what they were doing which made me want to see them again and be reassured of their “they're amazing in big venues or at Glastonbury” reputation.

Cue a quick change over of technical elements, and it was then The Chapman Family's turn to be headline act. Their name really is misleading, as generally any band with 'Family' in their name denotes a happy clappy folk outfit of some degree.

Starting off with 'All That's Left To Break', the band had a set of songs from their debut album Burn Your Town, and initially seemed a good match for the double-headline tour. With a dramatic style that was a bit more clean-cut than O Children and an atmospheric, distinguishable sound, more significant drumming and obvious differences transpired in each of the latest singles 'All Fall' and 'Anxiety'.

After Kingsley Chapman's rant about the evils of today's download culture (maybe he's not making any money from such a thing yet?) some giggled encouragement to go to the merch stall, and another couple of songs, I realised we'd somehow ended up in the middle of an emo gig. By the time we reached the encore of 'Kids' and 'Million Dollars', the indie contingency in the crowd looked somewhat freaked out by bass player Pop Chapman violently throwing himself around, and it felt like the band had urges to escape to a thrash band but they didn't have the balls to do it.

Their 'alternative rock' label had definitely shown through by the end of the set, and the handful of late-teen students filling the front row and grabbing for mics were loving it.

It feels bad saying The Chapman Family had 'no direction' because they did in a way, but things just seemed to be a bit of a mash of noises by the end of the set, and a senescent sound that is championed by acts like 30 Seconds To Mars.

Bit of a shame, because at first impression Kingsley had struck me simply as a less delicate Theo Hutchcraft, and they're good northern lads too, not American telly stars.

Tickets are no longer available for this event