Old Lows

Not So Screamo

Third on at the Rookie stage last night were Old Lows, a three-piece garage rock out-fit who had previously been described to me as screamo, but which turned out to be nothing of the sort. Perhaps the nearest thing to screaming would be Old Low’s female vocalist’s tendency to wail, though she wailed charmingly well. The effect up close was pretty powerful but from afar didn’t maintain quite the same punch.

Whilst I could see this band having a wider appeal than some of the others up on the Rookie bill, their brand of rock is nothing we haven’t seen before -usually in a small and sweaty live house. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all, but for a band to pique my interest I want something a little out the ordinary. However, my opinion matters little here as the gradual increase in crowd numbers throughout the set suggested that a good few other people enjoyed the show, and that’s what’s important for the Rookie bands – votes!