The Shutes – Alternative Way

this tuesday the phonogram people publicized a page from the coming 2nd comic of “the singles club” series. i’m waiting for this 2nd part since weeks now and all i get is a single page... bummer. anyway, it’s in the works and that is good to know.
for those unfamiliar to the phonogram comics: it’s basically about the magick (sic) of music. and even though they feature some obscure magick rites, in the end it’s only about the everyday magick of music everyone can experience. e.g. the most hated group of “retromancers”: djs playing only hits of the past, songs everybody knows and everybody likes and surely will dance to. simple trick, no craft involved. or the magick of a record that captures you by the first chord and makes you play the record over and over again.
a day before the phonogram preview got publicized i went to see The Bishops. the last time i went to the club they were playing i was just “a little” late and could only catch the last two minutes and the encore. this time i went extra early since i decided i also want to see the opening band. extra early turned into just in time; so i walked in and got in line for the cloakroom as The Shutes started playing. and that, ladies and gentlemen, was one of those above mentioned magick moments. when michael champion started singing with his squirky, high voice intoning syllables like a hypnotic mantra i just stood and stared.
lately i have quite often tried to miss the opening band but for some reason and without knowing The Shutes i wanted to see the support act. and that was one of the best decisions ever. either the isle of wight, yes, that’s where they’re from, grows some real magicians or some real lucky folks. i hope, as they are still unsigned, that they find a nice record company soon and i’ll have more than the few myspace tracks to listen to.
the rest of the night was pretty… not disturbing but at least unsettling. and i don’t know what unsettled me more: The Bishops who seriously seem to think that opening your tie, jump around, grimace and strike a chord a little harder makes them a real wild rock band or the audience who, in large parts agreed with them.

The Shutes myspace