RAY-BAN ENVISION TOUR PRESENTS: THEME PARK @ WEST COUNTRY BOXING CLUB, BRISTOL

Ray-Ban Envision Tour: Theme Park

West Country Boxing Club, Bristol, Saturday, May 22

Ray Ban had set up a competition enabling a lucky few to attend private gigs after they had submitted their ‘Vision’ onto the competition website. Whilst my friend bothered and entered the competition, after noticing Theme Park had mentioned on Facebook that they had a few spare tickets, I was lucky enough to nab some through a gushy email to the band themselves. After the train journey in, we reached Bristol and hopped off. Knowing exactly where we were heading, we followed the gatherings heading into the city for the Dot To Dot Festival. A rowdy bunch of woman clutched Fosters' cans whilst posing in their wellies, unfortunately it seemed that they weren't aware that the festival itself, isn't your typical muddy field festival, instead they would spend the day crammed into small music venues and pubs across the city, whilst being sandwiched between sweaty men, regretting their choice of rubber booties.

Anyhow, we reached St Thomas Street, and after storming around the street and the area, we found no sign of a 'West Country Boxing Club'. We got desperate, and after approaching four people, we soon discovered that actually there happened to be two St Thomas Street's in Bristol. Typical. Feeling like a complete plank for being so confident with my day-plan, we caught a taxi and trekked over to the opposite side of the city. It soon became apparent that this cheap day out with a free gig, was actually turning out to be rather stressful and unfortunately pretty damn expensive, for a penniless me. Feeling as though someone had thrown me into a sea of relief, we FINALLY arrived and trundled inside the post-church, present boxing club.

After stepping inside, I noticed it wasn’t at all what I expected, but then again, I don’t really know what I expected. Mooching into a room filled with Ray-Ban stickers and plastered with posters, I almost forget this was a boxing gym, until I turned to face a stripy punching bag (is that what you call them?). We were then greeted by two over-friendly brand promoters, who flaunted a bright red Smeg fridge. Inside laid a variety of the company’s produce; glasses differing in colour, shape and size. The female of the two persuaded us to select a pair each, to wear for photos. My friend gladly accepted, picking out a tortoiseshell pair complete with round lenses, whilst I stood aside, muttering about my oddly shaped head. The lady chose to assist and pulled out a humongous set of black glasses. I plonked them onto my face and within a second transformed into a bug. Unfortunately they were way, way too big for my face and this resulted in my appearance becoming rather fly like, instead of the super-fly sunglasses model that I would of preferred. We posed in front of the brands backdrop whilst the (worldly) male promoter took horrific insect photos of us on my shitberry.

After all the fuss, it turned out that we had to participate in over an hour of standing around until, even the support band performed. We ventured into the second room which was styled so that the boxing ring was pushed to the wall and had adapted to a stage format, whilst a dj booth sat at the back, along with strobe lights, which let’s be honest was a little uncalled for giving that it had only just hit 3 o’clock in the afternoon (I sound like such an old grouch). Having the room fashioned this way kind of killed my dream of having the ring in the centre, whilst the fans squished around the edge, a different member of the band facing in a different direction. However, it turned out that there can’t have been more than 25 people there in total (including staff, shocking), so it looked like there wouldn't be any crazy dance-action happening.

The Portillo Moment were the support band; made up of three men (who covered drums and guitars) and a female vocalist/bassist. I'm not 100% sure where they were from, or who they are, but I'd take a guess and say that they were fairly local to the Bristol area and were aged late teens/early twenties. I'd probably class their sound as folk-grunge or pop-rock, but who knows? The girl had a very distinct voice and the songs were a mix of quietly-relaxing tunes and heavier, dreamy beats. After a pleasurable set, they left the stage and joined the humble audience and wait for the 'headliners.'

Theme Park waddled into the ring and placed themselves into position to embark on the show. They bounced through tracks from the album, whirling the bodies below the boxing ring into a cheerful, tropical adventure. Highlights came from the newish single Tonight, old track Milk and Wax. Their chilled, summer-groove lightened up the cold, damp day, that was fo'sure. The band finished their delightful set and escaped out. We finished up the event by spray-painting and customising some t-shirts, relating to the day's theme of 'Impact Resistant.'

I must admit after being a fan of all the past EP’s, Theme Park’s album was a slight disappointment. However, after hearing all the tracks live, you have a complete different perspective; maybe their next album should be a live album? Rough and unhampered.

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dimwn6rRQA

THEME PARK ~ THEME PARK

THEME PARK

For about the last two years, Theme Park have been celebrated on many 'ones to watch' lists and been given the thumbs up by Radio 1 DJs, such as Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens, who; unlike many of their colleagues are renowned for having good radars on upcoming bands that are about to break. The band also being associated with artists such as Cajun Dance Party and Bombay Bicycle Club (their old school chums) presented them with big shoes to step into. However, I think it's fair to say that the greatly anticipated debut album from Theme Park isn't that much to celebrate.

The album first invites you in with 'Big Dream'; sure, the track isn't exactly going to set any concert venues on fire, neither is it the most spine-tingling song that 2013 has offered so far but it forms a low expectation for the rest of the album, which therefore enables you to receive a moderately pleasant surprise as you listen on. It begins with some simple drum taps and guitar strums but even when a reasonably funky bassline appears the track just fails to really get going. Miles Haughton's vocals seem somewhat languid and adds to the song's rather lethargic feel that presents a kind of 'can't be bothered' attitude.

 On the other hand, the album does occasionally show sparks of promise through tracks like 'Two Hours.' Again like many of the songs on the album Two Hours is quite slow to start. It begins with a beat that could make your shoulders dance and sway and maybe get your foot tapping then at 1:11 someone suddenly decides to hit the drums a bit harder and faster. This unexpected release of energy soon permits your whole body to get moving and you find yourself joining Miles as his voice strains "can you feel anything?" Another highlight comes from the recently released single 'Tonight' which provides a refreshing summery sound that is possibly well and truly needed throughout this miserable time of the season.

 To begin with Saccades (Lines We Delay) just sounds like an uninspiring attempt at an electronic sort of psychedelic backing track. Then at about 2:08 it's almost as if the song puts down it's cigarette, gets up off the couch and says "do you know what, I think I might actually make an effort." and starts to have a cheeky little dance. Then at 3:12 just fully decides to throw itself into a wild dance routine. Perhaps if Theme Park had just of been another new band with their quirky and welcoming groove they would of emancipated a breath of fresh air into the forever growing music industry. Unfortunately, at the moment it still seems that they are standing in the shadows of their old school mates, if only they could stop playing catch up on other artists' trails and lead a race of their own.