Fruition & The Culture @ Melting Pot, Luton
By James Cunliffe

Cork and Bull
Friday September 8

The Culture, Fruition, Melting Pot, one of me and loads of you. Well I make that Pimm’s o’clock.

It’s official, by decree of Luton’s venomous punk urchins The Culture, that the fruit-based beverage shall now be seen as the rock and roll drink of choice. Passing a huge bottle of the stuff amongst themselves between songs and then around the crowd was one thing, but musically they ticked all the right boxes.

Braving an over active smoke machine they deliver the perfect start to a Friday night, picking you up and shaking the cobwebs of work away. They opened with a signature rendition of ‘Kids and Thieves’ and spiced up an already sizzling set with newbies ‘Cab Driver’ and ‘Cue the Lights,’ songs that highlight the sound they’re starting to make all their own.

Add into the mix a rare outing for a cover version - ‘Rat Race’ by The Specials - alongside set stalwarts ‘The Chase’ and ‘Skag Ska,’ and it appeared to be success all round.

Set closer ‘Koko’ sounded more explosive than a Looney Tune-sized, sack full of dynamite, prompting singer/guitarist Daniel Ayres to finish the song by launching his guitar at the drum kit, in true Pete Townsend, ‘I’m a proper rock star, me,’ fashion.

And to follow all that, a headlining slot for Fruition - finally. The band have played in Bedfordshire so many times in the last year that should be given honorary citizenship. By my reckoning our Hertfordshire neighbours have supported every big name band that’s cruised through the county in the last two months, and The Scene has been itching to write more than the one sentence they have been getting.

We’re talking hairs standing to attention on the back of your neck when these boys pick up their instruments.

They certainly have got the songs to crow about, and at Melting Pot they didn’t disappoint. During ‘Sinclair’ the lyrics go "I know I‘m not alone in thinking/ Am I the only one who feels this way?" And just in case they were wondering, I think the answer is a resounding NO. Everyone present was right on their wavelength. For good measure the song’s impossibly infectious Supergrass versus Maximo Park style, ‘laughing-gas-induced, bouncy-castle-play-fight’ guitar riff, hammered home the desired effect.

The last time The Scene saw Fruition the highlight was a relatively new inclusion to their scamp-rock set, which at the time was called ‘Don’t Know (part 2).’ It’s shouty, sing-a-long chorus delivered again, and regardless of the track’s title now, it gives Fruition full on James Bond potential. You know? The one where boys will want to be them, and girls will want to be with them.

'Scamp-Rock' ha ha

He better not have launched his guitar at my drum kit

Probably the best your kit's ever sounded, ha ha

x

Doug must have told me about this review about ten times last night! YES DOUG IVE READ IT! xxx

haha good old dougy