The Vines

It’s good to see Craig Nicholls is looking healthy again...I wouldn’t exactly call The Vines’ return triumphant, with Vision Valley being a bit of a disappointment, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be giving them top priority when they hit the stage. The Vines have a reputation for putting on killer live shows and one listen of their explosive rock music makes this very easy to believe. Craig’s screaming is well-executed, creating an energetic atmosphere and their destructive on-stage antics are always guarenteed to entertain. Unfortunately however Craig has been suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome and has returned somewhat restrained (let’s hope it doesn’t last). Related to this illness or not, it is generally believed that the quality of their music has slipped over time. But despite this, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is poor and they have more than enough great songs in their repertoire to put on a thrilling live show. My only question is whether they still have the ability to deliver. In audio and video footage I have seen since Craig recovered, he still looked unwell and their sound was underwhelming. But I get the feeling it will be different when you’re there, experiencing it first-hand, and so you can bet I’ll be eagerly awaiting their performance.

Outtathaway! – This is The Vines at their best. This is music at it’s best. Well maybe that’s an overstatement but just the thought of hearing it live gets me excited.

Vision Valley – While their live show will be mostly about the upbeat songs such as the one above, we mustn’t forget that they can also make great slow music. Just like while their newest album may not compare to Highly Evolved, it’s not THAT bad. This song proves those both points.