Gig Reviews: Boxed Room Rebels Live Review
by maddog
Boxed Room Rebels Live! (Island Bar, Birmingham 22/06/11)
As I stepped into the upstars bar at Island Bar I was intially sceptical about the reception that Boxed Room Rebels would get considering they had decided to put on a stripped down set on a bill shared with bands that were using the formulaic loud rock sound (drums, bass, two guitars and vocals). Boxed Room Rebels (Siobhan Penlington, vocals, Paul Maddocks, guitar and Jamie Farron, bass) however were putting on an "unplugged" style gig with just an acoustic guitar and an electric bass, something that could show off the bands songwriting in an intimate style or expose the bands frailities.
Without prior knowledge of the band it would be easy, and of course very lazy, to compare the band to Tennesee rockers Paramore (alternative band complete with female singer with coloured hair, ring any bells??). This is, however, where the comparisons end as it must be noted that Boxed Room Rebels are very much a band in their own right and it soon becomes apparent that the desicion to do an acoustic set was probably an inspired one with singer Siobhans vocal power coming across immediately on set opener 'When It Rains'. Other highlights included the jangly Beatles inspired 'Circles' which evoked thoughts of making daisy chains in a muddy field in America in the 1960's despite being in a bar in the middle of Birmingham.... Another highlight included the rockier 'Walls' which had a more 'grungier' sound to it, complete with pop punk power chords, and a song which saw Siobhan, Guitarist Paul and Bassist Jamie in beautiful musical symmetry. They finished their set with a rip roaring funked up version of Michael Jackson hit 'Billie Jean' which had the whole of the audience in sing-a-long mode and showed the crowd the bands roots are maybe more pop oriented that they'd like us to think
Overall I was very pleased with what I saw and see the band having a bright future if they continue and progress at the rate they are, the only downside for me was perhaps the band could do with cheering up a bit, but maybe some of that great songwriting is based in that melancholy......
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Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 Time: 2:55 AM
About maddog
John Butler, Birmingham based music lover!