Your second album didn't quite receive the acclaim it expected. It happens. What happens next is your record label drops you and the ensuing legal wrangle threatens to propel you into the depths of musical obscurity. That or you can become Feeder's stable mates at Echo.
For all their icy intensity you never did get the feeling that BRMC would take it lying down even if third album 'Howl' is a somewhat subdued offering. Whether they came to show support or came to see if their song was chosen, tonight's set has been chosen by the fans and as the Astoria heaves and sighs with united anticipation it's easy to see they came out in their droves.
Tonight BRMC show exactly what's in their repertoire. Peter Hayes strolls on stage at 8.40 with acoustic guitar and harmonica in tow and gives us a healthy preview of what Bob Dylan's doing across town. After the understated acoustic beginnings, the rootsy blues stamp of 'Ain't no easy way' sees them crack open the bourbon and continue to pour. 'Still suspicion holds you tight' and 'Fault Line' ring out with similarly wistful sentiment as 'Promise' sees them switch from barroom to ballroom as Turner becomes Lennon-esque and takes to a singing/piano role.
This isn't to say that they've lost the acerbic edge that typified the first album as they still have some sonic monsters. There's the thunderous fuzz of 'Love Burns', the bleak white noise of 'Red Eyes and Tears' and the dark allure of 'Rifles' to confirm they still do smoke and silhouettes better than anyone else.
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The bass still moans and roars when it has to, Nick Jago's undemanding drumming is dizzyingly effective and the twin vocals of Hayes and Turner are as seductive and hypnotic as ever. It's an effortlessly rich sound that's as lethargically euphoric as it is engineered to lull you into a rabbit in the headlights state before exploding into the song that typifies BRMC. The immediacy of 'Whatever happened to my rock n roll' (Punk Song)' snaps at you straight away. It's a frenzied, lusting rock n roll affair and comes as no surprise that it's the fans number one request.
Two hours and forty minutes and a rousing encore later, BRMC leave stage much in the same way they entered, there's smoke and there's distance whilst the white light leaves you content with the shadows.
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