The gig got off to a promising start. I must admit I had preconceptions about this band and I really wanted them to prove me wrong. After seeing a previous Poser performance, I was convinced that this was just another Blink 182 rip-off band. However, the opening of their set really surprised me. It seemed like they had really tried to distance themselves from being typecast in this way and the first few songs really rocked. Posers energetic stage performance was fused with a mixture of emo, pop-punk music that occasionally crossed metal borders. With the addition of some coarse, vocal bursts, Poser really sounded like an original band in their own right.  |
I was very impressed with the bands huge, tight sound. As all band members jumped around the stage, the well balanced collection of 2 crunchy guitars and 5-string bass made for pleasant listening. This was all backed up with some very quirky, varied drumming. Clearly, the members of this band were accomplished instrumentalists and the guitar playing was particularly intricate and effective even amidst the barrage of hectic, punk driven song structures.  |
Unfortunately, this didn’t last for the entire set. It became apparent that after the encouraging opening, Poser seemed to settle down into a much more formulaic and unoriginal style. Their aggressive, emotive stance gave way for the much more common punk sound of…dare I say it…Blink 182! As the crowd appeared to become less and less interested, the band also appeared to lose focus and determination. Their energy levels drastically dropped and it seemed that their previous athletic antics were all for show to get the crowd on their side. The vocals became grating and mundane having lost their punchy tone and variety. The bands slick delivery remained but it was no longer having the same desired effect it perhaps did at the beginning of the set.  |
All in all, Poser were much better than I remember them. The guitar playing was faultless and the drumming never missed a beat. However, the bands somewhat clichéd image let them down and musically they fell into a style that everyone watching probably expected them to. There is no doubt that Poser have the ability to be different. At the end of June they return to the USA so if you want to go and see them, you had better hurry up. |
