By Dom Hurrell and Ian Biles from Beyond The Download
Last Saturday we witnessed what we believe to be the one of, if not the greatest homecoming gigs Reading has ever seen.
For a headline set that seemed to fly right by in a flurry of riffs, drum solos and an unexpected yet incredible cover it was as if the whole of Reading had stopped to witness in awe The Amazons cement themselves in Reading rock history as they tore the roof of a sold-out Hexagon Theatre!
The night was already of to a flying start as support came in the form of yet another hotly tipped Reading based band ‘Valeras’, who at still such a young age already have a sound beyond their years and a stage presence that’s sure to take them as far as they want to go in the music industry, and Brighton rock quartet Yonaka whose fierce fast paced set of indie rock hit after hit perfectly placed the crowd exactly how The Amazons wanted them.
As it got closer to the headline set, anticipation built and the atmosphere in The Hexagon suddenly turned into that of a football stadium with the crowd chanting football songs of their beloved local ‘Blue Army’ Reading FC. Then as T-Rex 20th Century Boy blasted through the speakers out came the local lads to an incredible welcome and they waste no time in kickstarting their set, opening with the heavy riff laden Stay With Me the crowd immediately descends into a state of beer throwing rowdiness.
The set is littered with highlights, only a few songs in frontman Matt Thomson welcomed Yonaka’s Theresa Jarvis onto the stage for a duet rendition of ‘In My Mind’ which surprisingly seems to work very well. Little Something is without a doubt the biggest highlight of the night, with swirling guitars creating dark tension before the blistering drop. The crowd happily cooperates, singing along to the extended ending as it brilliantly is welded with a cover of 20th Century Boy by T-Rex, demonstrating the band’s love for classic rock. The set also includes an old-school drum solo as Joe Emmett, the band’s drummer, is left on stage to show off his skills.
Black Magic is also a high point, blending pounding bass and nimble guitars with a sing-along chorus, culminating in a glass-shattering ending.
After four years on the road Matt Thomson reflects on where it all started and how everybody should be proud of where they have come from and why its so important to them to end their tour with one of the biggest hometown gigs Reading has ever seen.
He dedicates a song to the man that gave them their first gigs in Reading when they were starting out on their quest for what they’ve achieved and then they prove to have some old fans in the crowd, who sing along to 2016 single Nightdriving word perfectly.
The Amazons depart the stage before the encore, leaving the audience eagerly singing the chorus of Junk Food Forever, their oldest, most well-loved single and perhaps their defining single.
The crowd descends into madness at the start of the track, each member clutching at their friends as the biting riff and stomping bass fill the building.
The chorus is anthemic and the last minute or so of the song is particularly powerful.
The rise to top has been incredible for The Amazons and there still doesn’t seem to be any stopping them.
Beyond the download is more than just a record shop, it’s a music safe haven dedicated to the Vinyl Revival and the unique experience it brings. CDs and downloads just can’t compare to the interactive enjoyment of listening to music on Vinyl, from the exploration of the beautiful sleeve artwork to the unique warm sound quality.
We are based in Holme Grange Craft Village, off Heathlands Road and we’re open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and on Sunday from 11am to 4pm
