Hundred Reasons
Everyone knows that stage-diving can seriously damage your health, which begs the question - why did nearly everyone in the room (including Hundred Reasons vocalist Colin Doran) do so during this gig? The only way to explain the sheer volume of people landing on their head, then getting straight back up for another go is that these people love this music so much that they no longer feel any pain. And there is no greater compliment to be paid to a band than that.
It was clear from the start that quite a few people were here to see Hell is for Heroes as well and they turned out to be a fitting support for Hundred Reasons - borrowing from their counterparts line in passion, anger and electricity. They must take credit for really warming the crowd up. This was my first exposure to Hell is for Heroes and I was extremely impressed. It's always hard for a support band, but the crowd was really up for a good time.
Hundred Reasons come on stage to a rousing ovation from a sold out (or near enough) room. They have been widely renowned as one of the best new live acts in the UK and it's easy to see why, as the crowd lap up a quick-fire run through their releases to date, ahead of their debut album release.
"Remmus", "Slow Learner" and "Change of Season" are especially outstanding, whipping the crowd into a guitar-tinged frenzy and displaying raw energy, balls and euphoria. In the face of "rap-rock" and "nu-metal", Hundred Reasons are one of the only rock bands of their style to possess a real melodic quality. Often the melody hides away behind an arsenal of guitars, but it's always there or thereabouts. This is never more evident than on the beautiful, chilling "Falter", bringing with it a few bum-notes, but also some light relief from all this crowd surfing and stage-diving craziness. It proves to be the only real change of pace during the whole set, instead the band choosing to keep the tempo and volume turned up to the maximum. Wild haired singer Colin pushes another stage-diver off the front of the stage, leans forward into the crowd and squints at us, as his fragile, exposed, most hidden feelings are strung up for all to see.
HR have only released three e.p's to date and, after a while, this starts to show, as they do play some potentially weaker material later on. Fortunately though, this band rock so much that their passion alone can carry them through and full credit to them for that. "Shine", new single "I'll Find you" and "Soapbox Rally", amongst others, are also dispatched to a great response. This has been a stage diver's paradise and, along with a few bruises, they definitely got what they wanted. HR have poured out their hearts and left a little piece of them with each person present. Expect to see them doing this on a bigger stage very soon.
Related pages
Official Hundred Reasons Website
The band's fan-friendly website.
