The Rifles muscled their way onto the British music scene at the peak of the atrocious bed wetting music trend that was in full flow by the early 00’s. The likes of Snow Patrol and Keane were waving the flag for a mediocre meltdown that had reigned over the first half of this decade, but our prayers were finally answered when a new crop of talent arrived.
Some even got as carried away enough to call it the second wave of Britpop. Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party and The Libertines (if not short lived) had injected some excitement back into British music and among this influx of fresh meat was The Rifles – the 21st century’s answer to The Jam and a steel toe-capped kick up the arse for the record buying public.
Debut album ‘No Love Lost‘ spawned indie anthems ‘She’s Got Standards‘, ‘Repeat Offender‘ and ‘Peace and Quiet‘ – all of which became instant classics and were being blasted in clubs around the country. Leading the way for such clubs was Candybox – an alternative bolthole away from the commercial, overpriced venues that don’t quite offer the same experience. It also happens to be the club where singer Joel Stoker had met drummer Grant Marsh, completing the lineup of The Rifles. A buzz had steadily built and after a three year wait they delivered their sophomore album ‘The Great Escape‘, which proved to be a grander affair that still encompassed the energy of the first record.
They recently dropped their third album, ‘Freedom Run‘, and are clearly pleased with it because tonight at London’s Kentish Town Forum they’ve opened the set list with the first track on the record, ‘Dreamer‘ – a pounding, uplifting and very loud start to the show. Only two weeks ago Noel Gallagher walked onto this very same stage and kick started his solo gig with two songs from his own back catalogue – a less confident approach than The Rifles who have thrown themselves to the lions with this risky opener.
This area of London holds a very special place in the heart of the band who played their first ever gig at nearby pub The Bull & Gate under the original lineup which has since undergone a slight reshuffle. Parkas, paisley scarves and mod haircuts – there’s no mistaking you’re at a Rifles gig. The only thing missing was the Modfather himself. The band’s relationship with Paul Weller has been well documented, so there is always a sense of ‘what if’ in the air but that did not formulate. His services were not required as the band were capable of smashing it on their own tonight.
After an impressive start in which the airing of new song, ‘Dreamer’ was met with a warm reception, they started firing out the hits in quick succession, almost as if to get them out of the way so they can concentrate on giving their new songs the prime time slots. The menacing intro to ‘She’s Got Standards’ whipped up a frenzy and sparked a singalong that was so strong it almost drowned out the band. Why this track doesn’t feature in the endless stream of polls that magazines curate is beyond comprehension – it really is that good. ‘Repeat Offender’ was delivered with as much venom as the album version and somewhat predictability went down a storm.
One of the most admirable qualities of The Rifles is that they more or less avoided the second album syndrome that has plagued so many bands before them. ‘The Great Escape’ may not have been as good as ‘No Love Lost’, but it is by no means vastly overshadowed by the debut and stands up on its own as a solid record that features some of their strongest compositions that from a songwriting perspective are on another level. ‘The Great Escape‘ for example was the best received song of the evening, probably due to its sing-along quality and connection with the audience, who hung off Joel Stoker’s every word, joining him on the powerful chorus that is a skill they honed on the second record.
Guitarist Luke Crowther stepped up to the plate on vocal duties for new song ‘Sweetest Thing‘, adding a bit of variety to the mix and proving there isn’t only one good singer in The Rifles. Vocally he offers a sweeter, subtler alternative and it works well with this song which over time should become a live favourite. We should definitely hear more of him.
Naming themselves after a regiment of the British Army, it was a somewhat expected and fitting tribute when they demanded a minute’s silence for Remembrance Day that every member of the audience adhered to with endearing respect. It’s not often you can say that one of the most memorable moments of a gig is one that was void of any sound at all, and it was a testament to the relationship between the fans and the band.
The new record may be a slightly more polished affair than its predecessors, but it’s not short of melodies or sweeping choruses. ‘Tangled Up In Love‘ slotted into the setlist like an old favourite and showcased a softer side to the band which was lapped up by the crowd at the Forum.
A question hangs over whether it was a good idea to play their best songs so early on in the gig, as the last third could have done with a bit more energy. After hearing three classics in a row so early on there is surely a sense of ‘where do you go from here’ conjured up in the thoughts of the crowd, but at the end of the day they have a new record to promote. Nevertheless, watching the band bleed it with a stellar performance of ‘The General‘ is worth the ticket price alone – regardless of when they play it, so let’s not get too hung up on this minor criticism.
Tonight’s textbook performance was a reminder of how good they are live and raises the question of why they aren’t selling out arenas yet. The real question is – do we want them to? There’s something appealing about The Rifles’ raw, live experience that might just get lost along the way in a vacuous arena.
So sweaty, lager soaked, ear-ringing nights like this should really be cherished.
