Onerous-Fi
The O2 Discussion board, London
1st October 2022
It’s a gig he by no means thought he’d see. Following a near-decade hiatus and within the absence of any trains, Simon Reed navigates the worst London’s visitors has to supply for a nostalgia-fuelled appointment with Staines’ biggest (and presumably solely) musical export, Onerous-Fi.
Within the mid-noughties, the thrill of Britpop was a blip within the rear-view mirror. 9/11 marked the start of a collection of terrorist outrages and we have been knee-deep in a really questionable battle within the Center East. The Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami had simply killed north of 230,000 individuals. To be brutally sincere, issues have been a bit shit.
In opposition to this backdrop, 4 unassuming blokes from an especially unremarkable city (Staines – it doesn’t even sound interesting) shaped a band and made a report. The band was Onerous-Fi and there was one thing in regards to the music on that report – the Mercury-nominated Stars Of CCTV – that simply resonated. It someway managed to be offended in regards to the previous, assured within the now, and eager for the long run.
I liked that report and because of this, Onerous-Fi shaped a major a part of the soundtrack to my youth. Effectively, I say my youth; I used to be in my thirties. However when your social life has been placed on maintain for years by offspring they usually lastly change into sufficiently old for babysitters, my God it places a spring in your step. My spouse and I noticed Onerous-Fi a lot of occasions and people gigs rocked. The ground of Southsea’s South Parade pier flexed a lot it stays a thriller how we and some hundred others didn’t find yourself within the Channel.
Two extra albums adopted and Onerous-Fi continued to play to sold-out venues – together with a residency of 5 consecutive nights at Brixton Academy. After which in early 2014, silence. A pure break turned a full-blown hiatus and, while the band by no means formally introduced it was the tip, I don’t assume anyone thought we’d ever see them once more.
So, when this Spring posters began showing on the London Underground that featured the long-lasting digital camera brand from the Stars Of CCTV album cowl allied to a solitary date, the antennae began to twitch. It appeared the parlous state of Britain in 2022 had reignited the fireplace in frontman Richard Archer that had burned so brightly 17 years in the past. It was (lastly) time to get the band again collectively.
@HARD_FI ???!!!!?! The way in which I simply yelled “HARD-FI?!” On the prepare and now everybody’s me 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/osuFjuCgGn
— Amy ✨ Bidoof Fanatic ✨ (@CapriCornetto) April 13, 2022
Archer needn’t fear about whether or not there may be nonetheless a want to see Onerous-Fi carry out. The London present sells out in ten minutes. A Manchester gig and a warm-up in Milton Keynes are quickly introduced they usually do the identical. I’m fortunate sufficient to snag 4 of the tickets for London and this time it isn’t simply the 2 of us. The kids who have been being babysat in 2005 and who’ve grown up on a weight loss plan of Onerous-Fi plus different music of the age are alongside for the trip too. After all, inside seconds, they ditch their embarrassing mother and father and slide off into the melee nearer the entrance. A pair of ferrets up a very interesting drainpipe.
It’s slightly after 9. The decks of the assist, DJ and long-time Onerous-Fi collaborator Wrongtom, have been moved apart. A lone harmonica from Ennio Morricone’s rating of As soon as Upon A Time In The West echoes round The Discussion board, Kentish City. A colossal CCTV digital camera motif above the stage glints into life. It’s 3152 days since Onerous-Fi final stepped onto a London stage. That ends now.
A couple of seconds later, the acquainted strains of Center Jap Vacation break the comparative silence. It’s one of many angriest songs on Stars Of CCTV, a touch upon the idiocy of conflict in Iraq. It was so politically prescient on the time that it acquired the endorsement of Billy Bragg.
Again within the day the band picked up criticism for having the songs however not essentially having the ability to ship them stay – go to any YouTube feedback part on a historic Onerous-Fi stay video and also you’ll discover it. Center Jap Vacation is, by design, loud and barely chaotic. I can properly bear in mind listening to it stay the primary time round and needing to achieve the center eight to work out what it was. No such downside tonight. It’s clear, and it’s punchy, and it sounds improbable – no imply feat in a venue with the acoustic qualities of a Tupperware lunch field.
Save for guitarist Ross Phillips’ shaved head, the band look a lot as they did eight years in the past. Archer performs guitar when required, and when it’s not, he prowls the stage apron backwards and forwards, mic cable wrapped round his spare hand. The remainder of the band (Phillips, stage proper, plus Kai Stephens on bass, stage left, and Steve Kemp on the rostrum on the again) do what they do with objective and an absence of histrionics.
The set checklist covers plenty of bases. Not surprisingly, half of it options songs from Stars Of CCTV. There’s a quartet from follow-up As soon as Upon A Time In The West and a pair from third album Killer Sounds. We hear You And Me, an occasionally heard bonus observe, a brand new track entitled Trying For Enjoyable and a canopy of The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Military.
This latter one is, like all good covers ought to be, under no circumstances like the unique and begins with Archer taking part in a melodica into the mic. I needed to look that up by the best way. It’s a ‘harmonica with a keyboard’ to most of us. I really feel a frisson of pleasure as a result of that’s how the track Money Machine begins and it’s one of many band’s best-known tunes. After all, they do play that as properly; and after they do, 2,300 individuals scream each phrase.
2,300 individuals screaming the phrases is a typical thread tonight. It’s made simpler as a result of these basic songs are so anthemic. Tied Up Too Tight, Higher Do Higher and I Shall Overcome obtain the identical remedy. And if the viewers are slightly rusty on among the phrases, the band assist out with songs like Suburban Knights, whose “Whoa, whoa, whoa” chant within the refrain doesn’t require information of any phrases in any respect.
The group this night kind an fascinating combine. Like with us, there’s clearly a twin-generational factor occurring. I’m queued up with a man on the bar. We’re each tunelessly shouting the phrases to Good For Nothing and we catch eyes. “Have you ever seen the band earlier than?” he asks. “Yeah, a number of occasions” I reply, feeling fairly happy with myself. “How about you?” I ask again. He smiles. “I’m twenty-six. I’m right here with my dad”. I’ve by no means been any good at assessing ages.
It takes a number of songs for the viewers to heat up, however quickly sufficient half-full cups of beer are being flung across the auditorium and by the point set-closer Onerous To Beat comes alongside we’re collectively virtually febrile. It’s one other stand out tune; one other that will get the collective lungs remedy and it’s identical to previous occasions. The one omission of observe in the primary set for me is Feltham Is Singing Out; one other offended tune from Stars Of CCTV. In a method, I’m glad they don’t play it. It’s one other anthemic barnstormer. If it had been performed, the already ravaged vocal chords of the Discussion board viewers would possibly as properly have been gobbed out on the ground of the venue.
There’s a candy three-song encore. First, Archer comes out alone to the piano to play Transfer On Now, the one actual ballad from the debut album. It’s a extremely wonderful piece of track writing; desires of escaping the mundanity of Staines, watching the ‘purple lights blinking within the twilight’ as plane depart Heathrow for what are imagined to be extra unique areas. The tenderness of it’s considerably redacted as a venue filled with pissheads bellow the phrases again, but when I have been Wealthy, I’d take the adulation.
The title observe of Stars Of CCTV follows – it’s one other properly noticed piece of track writing talking out on the beginnings of a surveillance tradition, which has since change into endemic.
“We’re the celebs of CCTV, making motion pictures out on the road. Flashing blue lights, digital camera, motion, watching my life, most important attraction. We’re the celebs of CCTV, can’t you see the digital camera loves me?” sings Archer. “Yeah, that’s me shoplifting from Sainsbury’s!” screams a lady subsequent to me. I can’t assist however smile, although for the report, I don’t condone shoplifting.
There’s time for yet another track, and it’s been conspicuous by its absence to date. The band fireplace up Dwelling For The Weekend, certainly one of the best recognized track from again within the day. If anyone ever tells you they’ve by no means heard Onerous-Fi, play them Dwelling For The Weekend. You’ll discover they’ve heard Onerous-Fi. After all, it will get the requisite remedy. Extra beer goes flying, voices get additional shredded; however it’s so, so price it.
The band come collectively on the finish to just accept the applause and provides us a wave. Richard thanks us for coming and tells us we’ll see them once more quickly. I actually, actually hope we do.
Yow will discover Onerous-Fi on Fb, Instagram and Twitter.
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All phrases and images by Simon Reed. His web site Musical Photos is right here and you may go to his writer profile for Louder Than Warfare right here. He tweets as @musicalpix and is on Instagram at musicalpictures.co.uk
