Hard-Fi, 100 Club
Straight out of west Lond-on, just like a loaded gun.

As a statement of intent, this lyric from Hard-Fi’s current single, Tied Up to tight, is unarguable. The suburbs of London have thrown up some great bands over the years, including The Jam and now Hard-Fi. And if a 19 year old Mr Weller were to form a band today they would probably sound like Hard-Fi - a band who draw on a history of rock, soul and rap.

So, swap Woking for Staines, a 3 piece for a 4 piece, update the lyrics to make them applicable to the 21st Century and there you have it. Songs about living for the weekend, just to piss your minimum wage away by Tuesday; or about finding out that your girlfriend is pregnant.

The only downside is the thuggish crowd element that the band seem to have attracted already. I guess it’s to be expected from a band with the arrogance/self-belief of early Oasis (tonight all four swagger on stage like 4 little Liams). We’ve seen the same brutish element at recent Razorlight and Kasabian gigs, but never at a gig as small as this.

If you haven’t heard Hard-Fi yet then head over to their website and watch the video for tied up too tight.

Support was from Boy Kill Boy who are not much more than a Libertines tribute band who don’t hold our attention for very long. And we’re not on our own – NME editor Connor McNicholas, who is standing next to us, starts fiddling with his phone during the 3rd song before heading off to the bar.
- posted by Nigella @ 9:28 AM