Bear Pop/The Stayaways

Powers Bar in Kilburn is an intimate venue, full in attendance and perfect on this cold March night. The bill features hotly tipped Brighton 4-piece Bear Pop and London trio The Stayaways.

Noise rock outfit Bear Pop hit the stage flying. Bringing to mind Modest Mouse and The Black Keys, they are a pacey rocknroll outfit that flirt with the blues. Lead singer Vinod Bhairo growls and howls through tracks as if Kurt Cobain and Chuck Berry were related, tracks often driven by wildly extravagant guitar playing.

Displaying an intensity not dissimilar to At the Drive In, it's in the coupling of these sort of influences with some classic rocknroll licks that helps justify the intrigue. The Beast, perhaps their most recognised two and a half minutes is well received but it's in new tracks Inner Body Lights and Greenwood that the band show real promise. The former employing a soulful opening before deflecting outrageously to the dancefloor, successfully flirting with The White Stripes on route. Showcasing their ability to swap vocal duties between all four members and effectively shaking up their make-up, this is something that could tell them apart. Check them out when you can.

The Stayaways are less immediate in grabbing the attention of those in attendance and rely heavily on their frontman who conveys a slightly irritating swagger. This London 3-piece walk a road not dissimilar to the likes of The Courteeners or Oasis, aiming for the big and bold, but on this occasion they fall somewhat short. Liar Is Me is some good honest rocknroll though.

To the bar.