Pope/
Peacock Avenue
100 Club
5 August 2006

Watch out for Pope. They’ve been well received in the music press and performances like this – plus their excellent album ‘Grace of God’ are the reason why.

Chris Pope - former front man of Mod revivalists the Chords - has teamed up with former Chords drummer Buddy Ascott to put together one of the sharpest bands around. Pope’s music is smart – lyrically clever and versatile.

It comes with a hard guitar edge, but with a rare versatility that grows on you – fast.

The set show-cased the best of what Pope have to offer: songs from Grace of God included ‘Brave New World’ – a vitriolic anthem on its own worth serious interest in the band. And ‘Friends Like That’ a song which boils with frustration. There’s real voltage in these songs: Chris Pope certainly hasn’t lost any of his edge with age. And – just when the gig needed a pace change – in came a new track ‘Could I fall in Love Again’ with its beautifully slow rhythmn – and echoes of Lennon’s ‘Mother’. Chris Pope delivers it all with a slightly mad glint in his eye. He commands attention and you can’t help but feel that he deserves a bigger crowd.
The 100 Club gig got a respectable turnout – but somehow he looks like he’d be just as comfortable in front of 50,000.

Take a minute also to checkout support act: Peacock Avenue. On the circuit for a couple of years, they’re another excellent unsigned band. And in John Brackett they must have one of the most gifted drummers on the circuit - a real Keith Moon in the making. When was the last time you saw a drummer actually break his sticks?

Review by David Brown (N4) 5th August 2006

MORE ON POPE HERE