Live Review
The Family Rain
Heaven, London
November 25 2013
Words: Andrew Major
Photo: Joe Parry
History tells that bands containing any number of siblings generally work pretty well: Kings of Leon, Oasis, The Jackson 5 - the list goes on - and now has a new addition in the form of blues-rock brothers The Family Rain. Neatly filling the gap in the current music scene made vacant by the late White Stripes and the increasingly quiet Kasabian, they burst onto said scene in 2013 and already radio regulars with a string of thumping singles behind them.
For a band still in the developing years of their career, the trio have certainly amassed an impressive arsenal of stand-out tracks to choose from, due to this they have the ability to select a beautifully textured and varied set of absolute face tearing, riff lead stadium anthems and delicate melodious grass-roots blues. The venue lends itself perfectly a band of The Family Rain’s stature, blurring the lines between an intimate garage rock show and a more impressive, polished live performance and also allowing for an eerily back-lit stage to illuminate the brothers and increase their already impressive stage presence. The band jerk into action with opening track ‘Carnival’, an oldie but a goodie and perhaps a fairly odd choice to open with, The Strokes tinged melodies seem to divide the crowd between what one can only assume to be the ‘new’ fans and the ones that have been there from the start. ‘Friction’ eases the anxiety of both the band and crowd with a groove you can get your hips into, another track from the band’s earliest sets and lacking in their now well known, heavier, blues rock sound.
‘Binocular’ is as grass-roots as The Family Rain get with an insanely catchy guitar riff come vocal melody, clearly a fan favourite with a rousing chorus and complete with some Jack White-esque screeching outro vocals. With the mood set for the remainder of the show and the crowd howling for something with a little more punch, they were assured not to panic, with the resonating words of front man William Walter: “We’re gonna get heavier than that next, are you ready?” And with that bearded boys from Bath unleash new track ‘Sister Hooks’, laced with grimy garage swagger and some more homage being paid to the great Jack White. The moment most of the crowd had been waiting for arrived in the shape of ‘Pushing It’. A small pocket of the crowd seems to appreciate the tight, punchy delivery where as others are content to remain slowly sipping at their pints with a vague nod of the head. The set itself is well dispersed with more well-known tracks like ‘Reason To Die’, ‘Pushing It’ and ‘Feel Better (Frank)’ all keeping the momentum up, whilst giving the band a chance to showcase newer additions ‘Alexander’ and ‘Sister Hooks’. The show is topped off with sure-fire crowd pleaser ‘Trust Me…I’m A Genius’. Fuzz is the name of the game with bass and guitar taking it in turns to fully engage in some indulgence to complete a tight and highly competent set.
The Family Rain undoubtedly have a long way to go to get themselves up there with other must-see live acts but given their rapid rise to headline touring and support slots for the likes of Jake Bugg and Miles Kane, it can be pretty much assured that if they keep the wheels in motion after the release of their debut album ‘Under The Volcano’ (due for release in February 2014) you’ll be seeing their name next a ‘Sold Out’ sign at some much larger UK venues in years to come.
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