Knievel Genius, Son of a Gun, Faster Inferno.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 6th October 2006.

A recent newspaper article stated that sales of guitars in the UK have topped £100 million for the first time, indicating the revival in rock music is getting stronger. Nearly 1 million guitars were sold in 2005, 200,000 more than in 2004 and double the number sold in 1999. As a music industry chief remarked "The popularity of the guitar is clearly going from strength to strength'.
It was this article which immediately sprang to mind upon watching tonight's opening band FASTER INFERNO. A revelation in their previous visit on a Thursday showcase in the heat of July, from the opening salvo of 'Roll On (Sweet Revenge)', I'm afraid the only embarrassment is that so few people have bothered to witness such a talented band. 'Lovegun' pushes the retro rock button full on while the dazzling finger plucking skills of young Mr Schenker is a pleasure to behold, especially on 'Hard Rockin Lover'. Perhaps aptly, the final song of Faster Inferno's set is the anthemic 'The Raiders of Rock'n'Roll'. By the time they finish a few more people have arrived but considering the skilful brilliance of this young band the people absent missed a real treat.

The loss tonight of headliner Sacred Mother Tongue (who unfortunately had to pull out due to an injury to a band member) meant that SON OF A GUN and KNIEVAL GENIUS took the upper slots. Tonight Milton Keynes' Son of a Gun put on a more absorbing and substantial set and were rather less predictable than I usually find them. However, Knievel Genius, although bringing a good few fans, were on tonight's performance just tiresome and more than a touch pretentious and paled in comparison to the true stars of the evening, Faster Inferno.