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Northampton, Soundhaus. 30th July, 2003.
Since seeing Number One Son on tour last year, just after their
debut album, Majority of One, had been released the band have gone through finding themselves without a drummer and their
music taking a drastic change in direction.
Not long after the departure of original drummer, Keith Blundell,
they used thier drum tech Simon Atkinson (Or Tiger Si as he is affectionately know) to stand in for the upcoming gigs they
had. Tiger was made a permanent member after it was clear that his energy and enthusiasm for playing was having a more than
positive effect on the band.
NOS have ditched their matching stage gear and left their rap-rock style behind them and have found themselves writing more
energetic songs that truly rock and dare I say it? Have a bit of an Emo feel to them. Which is
why its unsurprising
that the Number One Son play with a sort of confidence that could make even the more experienced bands that you see feel more
than a little intimidated by them.
Singer Nic Whitmore shows real feeling when singing and
shows just how far his vocal talents stretch. Guitarists Andy Lister
and J Wadeson both loose themselves to each song and are backed up by a heavy bass courtesy of Ian J Ward and Tigers frantic drumming.
They play only one song from their
debut and still the crowd go mad for everyone song as if they had already heard it ten times before. Highlights of the set include the new single All Fall Down, a song that could make dead man dance! And
my personal favourite The Eyes Have It.
It feels like that the band have
matured musically, not quite mentally though! And spent the time recording the album finding themselves and are here to show
off what they can really do.
Now armed with the new album Lessons
and the confidence to refuse to conform to the hardcore
sound many British bands now come out with its clear that Number One Son are one of the most
promising bands around and will soon start getting the recognition they truly deserve.
- Emma Barnard 2003
Barfly, Cardiff, 10 May 2002
As talk of the long awaited renaissance of UK metal rumbles on,
two more preachers from the British church of noise are on the road together, desperately trying to keep the hype alive.
Having spent a good deal of this year constantly on tour across
the country, and with their debut album release only a month away, Newports Kennedy Soundtrack are finally back in
their native South Wales. Great things are expected of them, and should all go well album-wise, the experience of the last
few months wont have gone to waste. Tight and disciplined, they are obviously enjoying themselves, and even moments of dodginess
form the PA cant put them off the game. Shaven-headed rapper frontman Nic Havard works the crowd well, and whereas some bands
could have easily died on the arses tonight, The Kennedy Soundtrack's bouncy blend of rap and riffs keeps the audience entertained.
In contrast, Liverpools Number One Son may not have a great deal
to say, but they just let the music do the talking. Stablemates with the nu-metal media darlings of the moment Lostprophets,
Number One Son have benefited from the open-minded metal policies of Visible Noise Records, culminating in the release of
last year's 'Majority Of One' LP. Tons of energy and plenty of attitude means Number One Sons hardcore assault doesnt disappoint,
the crowd feeding off the bands passion, the punchy deliverance of current single 'Hourglass' summing up the dedication on
display tonight.
Its very loud and it certainly isnt pretty, but the dinosaur that
is British metal is slowly rearing her ugly head once more, and shes had babies! Once responsible for the likes of Black
Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Motorhead, who knows what her little monsters will do this time.
- Rob Jackson 2002. www.musicomh.com
Subverse 1 - December 8th 2002
At the first Subverse they had two Visible noise faves
on the bill - Number one son and Kilkus. Things got off to a great start - plenty of people turned up, ranging from about
8 years old upwards!!
Kilkus, who have a loyal fanbase in and around the London
scene, played a brilliant set including some new trackes. Number one son came to stir things up a bit - and they certainly
did that! They were on form from start to finish, and even came back for an encore.
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