The Boxer Rebellion, Sugarmill Stoke June 10 2011 7/10

I’m in a quandary about assessing this show. I certainly had a lot of fun, and felt fortunate to experience such a talented band in a small venue, right amidst the action. The Boxer Rebellion make a big, anthemic sound which I can imagine is pitched ambitiously to a large stadium, but I’d much rather be stood a few feet from them. The question is how much it matters that they don’t have a truly original voice and lack anything like the creativity of an Arcade Fire or Portugal. The Man.

Clear influences include early Radiohead, The National and Elbow, but there’s the odd number which makes reference to indie folk bands too. There’s quite a variety of mood between songs: so the brooding ‘No Harm’ is reminiscent of The National, whereas ‘Doubt’ is more Thom Yorke like in its angst. This show did move me, and the energy of the performance was enough to produce some of that much sought after live music euphoria: I left with a sense of wellbeing, but also with questions in my mind. If my favourite Radiohead album was The Bends, I might have felt less conflicted, but I rate Kid A as their greatest work, so I was bound to be sceptical.

Their previous album, the self-released Union, outsold Kings of Leon, MGMT and Coldplay on iTunes US on its release, but controversially was barred from entering the UK Charts because it was only available digitally. Many of the songs in this set were from the 2011 release The Cold Still. This is not a radical departure or  advance in style from their earlier work, despite the involvement of famed producer Ethan Johns and takes too few risks, despite some tantalising all too rare glimpses of brilliant for example in ‘Organ Song’. If you are new to them, try Union first, as this has greater impact (and a debt to Coldplay).

I fear they could become another Kings of Leon, gaining bafflingly wide popular appeal whilst being devoid of musical substance. It’s almost as if a focus group was held in a suburban house, and a group of rock fans lamented that Radiohead had been on a downward spiral since OK Computer. After saying they found King of Limbs  completely baffling, a gap in the market was identified for which the Boxer Rebellion were to fill. It’s an international collaboration: London based but with a lead vocalist from Tennessee, lead guitar from Australia and Englishmen on bass guitar and drums.

The Boxer Rebellion do execute well though, from the brilliant vocals of Nathan Nicolson to stage antics including jams and leaps into the crowd. They didn’t lack commitment, and great energy was put into the performance. I just wondered at times if I was being a little manipulated: it felt a little calculated, appealing too easily. They really did rock, and could produce moody, brooding numbers such as ‘The Runner’. They have a great grasp of rhythm and a gift for melody, beautiful guitar playing and bass you can feel in every fibre of your body.

All the ingredients are in place, and they were in a different league to the support acts; yet that elusive brilliance of absolute genius was missing. Still, they put on a highly entertaining show, and I’d encourage you to see them yourself and make up your own mind. Radiohead still aren’t touring, so the real thing isn’t an option right now, and even second rank rock can make for an amazing night out.

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7/10