Review: The Ladders, The Torrents @ Hordens, Blackburn (From This Is Lancashire)

Review: The Ladders, The Torrents @ Hordens, Blackburn

2:40pm Wednesday 29th April 2009 in

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Review by Sarah Aspden

Already warmed up by Preston band Underdogs, the crowd are buzzing with anticipation when Torrents hit the stage for their first hometown gig this year.

As the first chords of new tune, It’s All Over Now ring out, it’s clear right away why these 5 local lads have been tipped by those in the know as ‘ones to watch’.

And if the couple of hundred here tonight have all come expecting to see something special, the cool young band duly oblige.

Torrents pummel through their massive, rousing songs like they’re being paid per gram of sweat.

The words of every huge chorus are spat back at them by a large and lively, crowd who have travelled from as far as Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester to join the party tonight.

As expected, the set is mainly made up of songs recorded over the last 6 months with The Enemy’s renowned producer, Matt Terry.

He’s a Victim, Now or Never, Everything is You, Waiting for Sunday and 21 (but not for long) seem more stirring and passionate live than on record thanks to the energy and exuberance of the band.

The themes of the songs are universal and it’s easy to relate to Torrents as front man Neal Burton sings his lyrics about the despair and the optimism of youth, the state of the country today and of course, trouble with girls.

Full of sharp banter and cheeky grins, Neal and his boys have plenty to say and somehow manage to strike an intriguing balance between cockiness and charm.

The two new tunes given an airing tonight, the second as yet unnamed track a particular highlight, don’t feel out of place alongside well established crowd-favourites.

Neal sings every word like it means everything.

His best mates, Joss on bass, Gus on guitar, Austin on drums and Wigan on keyboards, are as tight as it gets, beating the life out of their instruments fuelled in equal measures by adrenaline, and a resounding belief in their band and the songs.

Perhaps the most exciting thing is to hear a genuine song-writing talent shine through the noise, which tonight is in part thanks to the Hordens’ impressive sounding PA, and a great mix courtesy of Curtis McKenna.

As the last chords of 21 (but not for long) ring out and the band swaps the stage for the bar, the hot but happy crowd are left to contemplate what just hit them.

The prevailing view: Torrents aren’t just a great local band; they are a great band full stop.

Be lucky enough to share the secret while it’s still this special.

Northampton’s The Ladders, just back from supporting Paul Weller on tour, closed the evening’s proceedings in brilliant style - their soulful cocktail of Marriot and Lane meets Otis, providing a surprisingly complementary contrast against the previous band.

Led by the exceptionally talented Danny Connors, The Ladders picked up a legion of new fans in Blackburn, impressing with their incredible musicianship, super-cool songs, and an enviable talent for keep the party vibe going right through to the death. Review by Ian Hodgson

Maybe it’s alchemy or a certain stellar alignment in some far-flung galaxy that creates the right conditions for a blazingly perfect gig experience.

Whatever the reasons, Torrents’ home town gig at the premier live Blackburn venue The Hordens was a triumph and a spectacle.

Supported by the ‘Placebo meets Pulp’ Underdogs and a drummerless [long story] The Ladders, whose shamelessly derivative buoyant sixties fare left me strangely unmoved, the five Blackburn lads tore into their set like starving wolverines.

Judging by the gaggle of po-going girls at the front and the fact that the gaff was packed to the rafters, they had got the heady mixture of adrenalin and precision exactly right.

People had travelled from places such as Leeds, Bradford and Manchester to be a witness and none left without ringing ears and silly, sweaty grins – and that included the band themselves.

The shout-a-longs ‘Waiting For Sunday’ and ‘Twenty One [But Not For Long]’ made perfect sense tonight with their buzz-guitar-charged ebullience.

Guitarist Angus’ cheeky sneer served to propel choruses to new delightful heights as he pummelled his cool retro guitar while yelping singer Neal drew blood splashes across his Telecaster scratch plate.

Real blood and real excitement. Austin on drums was as pounding and committed as ever while Joss anchored everything down with his angry rattling bass lines.

A new recent twist in the tale is the addition of Wigan on organ which adds a rush and a push to Torrents’ already charged attack.

With ‘He’s A Victim’ recently filmed as a fully professional promo clip, there’s no reason why this outfit, who trade on classic muscular British guitar driven pop and street wear [ we are in the midst of the new mods here] can’t go upwards and onwards to greater glories.