The Co-operation Tour 2002 : Hundred Reasons / Capdown / Douglas / Adequate 7

Date : February 24th 2002
Venue : Edinburugh Liquid Rooms
Support : None

The Liquid Room is the perfect venue for a band like Hundred Reasons to show why they have such a reputation as a live act. Unfortunately, this was probably the last time they will play such a small venue in Scotland with the release of their long-awaited debut album set to rocket them to stardom. However, such potential certainly doesn't get to the band's head as they played to an expectant crowd who knew they were seeing a band with big things to come.

They were made to wait for their fix of fuzzy hair and energetic guitars as they brought with them three other exciting bands. First up were Adequate 7. Despite their enthusiasm, it was obvious that the crowd were saving their energy for the main event, but The 7 gave a good account of themselves with fast, energetic ska-punk backed up by an eager vocalist who did all he could to get a small number of kids skanking and bouncing to their exciting but short set.

Similarly impressive were Douglas who had a much stronger and solid sound than Adequate 7, drawing more interest from the crowd. They played a catchy, punk-pop set, with a more hardcore edge to their sound, similar to that of The Movielife or even New Found Glory's older material. The idea that they know what they're doing (having toured America twice and supported The Ataris in 2001) went out the window when the frontman disappeared during a break in a song only to re-emerge at the top of a balcony. It goes without saying that he wouldn't jump; it's too dangerous, somebody could be hurt, or things could go very wrong. Of course he jumps in head first, to the crowd's delight, causing a chaotic eventual return to the stage. "Apparently a kid's been concussed... so this song goes out to him", and doubtless that makes the lads night, despite being landed on, as their set really is fantastic. Definitely a band to look out for in every sense...

Capdown are always a guarantee of a good time, whether you like ska or not, you can't deny their commitment and 100 percent effort. Every catchy saxophone melody and scorching riff is greeted by mad skanking and small - but chaotic - circle pits which simply encourage the band to give their all. The new songs from 'Pound For The Sound' don't go down as well as older favourites like Ska Wars and The Neverlution, only because the old songs are capable of doing enough to get the crowd warmed up for the headliners. (One sad absentee from the set was lead singer/saxophonist Jake's trademark baggy barnet, which it seems has been hacked off, so watch out Colin Doran.) The title of 'The Co-operation Tour' came into it's own when Capdown frontman Jake found himself chasing a lose microphone stand round in circles while trying to play one of his distinctive tunes on the sax, so Hundred Reasons guitarist Larry Hibbitt ran on to hold it still for the remainder of the song.

When they finally take to the stage there is feeling of anticipation, which some bands may have struggled to overcome, but for Hundred Reasons it's become second nature. They race through the set with most of the crowd reaction going to recent successes 'Remmus', 'I'll Find You' and the new single 'If I Could', but newer songs from the forthcoming album show a different side to the band. Quieter moments in songs may have caused other bands to sacrifice their distinctive sound, but again Hundred Reasons pull it off with guitarist Paul Townsend's vocals making the gentler moments as memorable as any point in the gig. Bringing the set back to full speed are 'Formula One' and the riot-like closing song 'Counting The Days' - something everyone here tonight will be doing in the build up to Hundred Reasons' next visit to Edinburgh. Whether they will play such a small venue here again depends on the success of their debut album, and on this evidence there's not one reason for them not to overcome the hype and become the most successful of the recent British bands hoping to make it big.