Live
Reviews
1st Feb 2003 - Indicator, Pinkeye, Dumbsoda
- Railway Pub, Rodley.
By Ned.
"This was always
going to be a special gig for Indicator because not only is it their first ever
headline show, its also the first gig since the release of the "Critical
Resistance EP" and as a group of slightly pissed up punks gather in the
pool room turned rock club of "the Railway" its impossible to ignore
the great sense of expectation in the air.
But like true profesionals, the band take it all in their stride, simply letting
a clash of cymbals and a cry of "GO!" announce their arrival as they
tear into "Critical Resistance" with the kind of confidence and passion
that rivals any other great live bands you'd care to mention.
After this 2 and a half minutes of frantic slamming and people actually singing
along, frontman Grigg informs us in his wonderfully rough roar that "This
next song is called motherfucking Pieces!" and would you believe it, the
crowd know exactly what he's talking about and respond with a deafening cheer
before indulging in the kind of pit related activity that no doubt teared this
quiet family pub a new arse hole.
It's about this point that things threaten to go horribly wrong as most of the
bands equipment fucks up big time. Strings are snapped, microphines suddenly
stop working and things generally go abit pear shaped. While this does tend
to disrupt the flow abit and makes the usually strong backing vocals almost
impossible to perform, no one in the crowd seems to care as the band carry on
regardless and the atmosphere of the whole thing just gets better and better.
Other highlights tonight include a version of new song "Only A Future"
that is so raw and chaotic thanks to the techinical hitches that it actually
ends up sounding perfect, and seeing the pit constantly active throughout the
whole set (even for the begginning of "Abuse") is certainly very cool.
In fact, every single tune is well recieved and although playing a song by "The
Clash" may seem a little strange when you hear the hardcore punk Indicator
usually deal with, their cover of "Capital Radio" goes down a storm.
Even at the end of the set as "Realise" draws to a close people still
want more. This results in what must be the best moment of the night as "Critical
Resistance" is played again. Of course, by this time the lack of working
microphones means theres none of the three way singing in the chorus but to
the people in the room who by this point are going absolutly mental whilst fighting
for the chance to scream "FUCKING CRITICAL!" down the one remaining
mic, these minor difficulties dont mean a thing.
This is hardcore punk at its best and most chaotic and if you dont like it,
you can go with the Nazi punks and FUCK OFF!..."
28th March, 2002 - Primrose pub Leeds, Anti Facist gig
Rachel,
Head Wound zine - issue 13
"So first up were indicator and for me at least here was a lesson to be
learned about prejudice and stereotyping.We had only heard of indicators existence
when we were handing out gig flyers and this young lad told us he was in a band.Fair
enough we took his number but we mentally dismissed them completely on the basis
that he was about 16 and of course we smugly equated this with .. either NOFX
baggy pants malarkey or nu metal bollocks.This came to haunt us when we were
forced to find a band at short notice and indicator agreed to do it.So, expecting
a bunch of nerdy kids playing at being bad religion we were compelled to eat
our words with the arrival of young punks (14-16)who set about tearing up the
gig room with their full on hardcore punk.They all took turns to sing and the
enthusiasm they put into their set was infectious - no one who had come to the
gig had heard of them before but everyone was commenting on how good they were.
Musically they drew comparisons with a whole gamut of punk - minor threat,The
casualties,Partisans , black flag.... Indicator - a band to watch out for ,
remember you heard it hear first! "
22nd
September, 2002 - Joseph's Well, w/ King Prawn & Mr. Dogg
Transfire Music website, by Ben Hannah
"If you had not heard of this gig coming then where have you been for the
past three months. On a cool night in Leeds, Indicator were the first band to
hit the stage. I instantly liked this band as the singer was wearing an Agnostic
Front t-shirt, the bassist was wearing a Nazi Punks Fuck Off t-shirt and the
guitarist was sporting a highlighted mohawk. However, they got off to a hardcore
start after many picks were dropped and volume knobs were sent flying. The music
was tight and they got a few audience members in a mosh pit, about five in total.
Congratulations to the guy who managed to get his shirt ripped in the middle
of the smallest pit I have ever seen. Anyway back to the music. You really could
not get much more hardcore punk than this. Do not be fooled by the drummers
size as he is a fantastically skilled one."
6th
September, 2003 - Birmingham Punks Picnic, @ Royal George, Digbeth High St,
Digbeth
Nihilism on the Prowl , by Peter Dont Care
: http://members.tripod.com/reviews7/gigs/id55.htm
:
"I think it was Indicator who were up next? Now Indicator ain't a name
that indicates anything exciting in my world, but with such a piss poor name
don't let it fool ya! Coz these gobby teenage oiks from the Leeds suburbs were
another fresh bunch to set the night alight. They literally tore up the stage
with a well primed energetic attack, and look the most promising band to come
outta Leeds since maybe Dead Punk? Like all Leeds bands they give us a very
political bent on song subject matter. And are probably all very angry vegetarians
who hate nazis and have a place at University booked. But the way they play
it and deliver it, this is pure punk rock! With guitars as weapons and loads
of passion as ammo, these kids can only go far. For guttersnipes so young (someone
told me their drummer had just turned 16) they played like veterans. They exude
bags of confidence on the tiny stage, easily commandeering an out of town audience
shows guts, and pulled it off with only minor heckles. But do they care, course
they fuckin don't, they've enough attitude in their amps and stance to leave
tonight's Philistines back in the dark ages. As their set progresses more duel
singing/salvoes get thrown around the front rows as both guitar slingers jump
around like synchronised firecrackers. Indicator leave the stage giving every
indication of something very new and exciting and one to watch out for... "