The Checks @ Jive, Adelaide(2/11/2007)

Thu 15th Nov, 2007 in Gig Reviews

The Checks first visit to Adelaide will be memorable for all the wrong reasons and unless they are supporting a big international act I’d be surprised if they would be bothered to come back. Along with the other twenty people who were there and share a similar opinion there is little doubt that The Checks are one of the most exciting prospects going round leaving a lasting impression about how great rock – œn roll can be.

If there is a defence for the poor turn out it would only be due to the fact that there ten other shows on that night making it impossible to be everywhere at once. Poor turnout, terrible weather and front man Ed Knowles celebrating his twenty first birthday in Adelaide doesn’t make for a memorable occasion. Nevertheless, the spirit and intensity they played with you would have thought they were playing in front of ten thousand people. It could have been a training run but thank god it wasn’t.

The Checks play a brand of rock – œn roll that is blistering in intensity taking the best bits from the blues and garage both past and present putting their own spin on things. Hunting Whales will go down as one of the best albums for 2007 are some of the cracking songs they whipped out include the likes Take Me There, See Me Peter and the single that started it all What You Heard.

For such a young band they have all the rock moves, swagger and attitude that their counterparts have who have all been around the block a few more times than these lads have. Throw in to the mix songs such as Terribly Easy, Memory Walking and Mercedes Children showcases a band that has a lengthy career in front of them and justifies the celebrity endorsement from the likes of Michael Stipe (REM) and Liam and Noel Gallagher (Oasis). Maybe if their first Adelaide show was actually after their Muse support slot perhaps their fortunes may have been different and more people could agree with me.