Agent Blue @ Betsey Trotwoods
26/07/04

OK, so they may be from Stoke, but it doesn’t really matter; Agent Blue rock, in fact, they rock hard. I’d only heard a couple of songs before this gig, so I really didn’t know what to expect. What we go, in what has to be the tiniest venue I’ve ever seen, was an exhilarating ride and the perfect pick-me-up after a long day. With song titles like ‘Sex, Drugs, and Rocks Through Your Window’ and great tunes that refuse to be pigeon-holed, you can’t go wrong.

The singer, Nic Andrews, is mental, and when I say he threw himself into songs, I’m not exaggerating. In fact, more accurately, he threw himself to the ground during some songs – I got the feeling it’s some sort of therapy for him. Agent Blue are proof that no matter how good a band are on record, live they become brilliant. Andrews has an excellent voice, it’s quite unusual as it’s throaty but melodic. You’re kind of hit by a wall of sound which doesn’t really let up and Andrews is happy, at times, to lie down at the feet of the audience.

Some of the songs are slow, some are pulsing, but the most standout tracks are those which combine the energy of the pulsing guitars and stream of consciousness vocals. Hence why ‘Sex, Drugs and Rocks Through Your Windows’ remains one of their best tunes – once you get it in your head, you won’t be able to get it out. They don’t say anything except to introduce themselves, instead just playing with passion like they’ve lived the music. Go and see this band, you’ll love them.

http://www.agent-blue.co.uk/site.php

Natasha Perry