Review: Ash
University Mountford Hall 2-5-01
Gareth Kemp sees familiarity breed content

It seems unbelievable that seven years have passed since a trio of kids barely out of school released ‘Trailer’, their first long play release. At the time I felt a little dubious about giving my precious time to a bunch of kids as there is often only a thin line between young upstarts and manufactured boy-type bands (reject Darius of 'Popstars' fame recently sang on stage with Ash - I rest my case!). Anyway, there is nothing manufactured about this band, but their brand of indie punk-rock does generally appeal to the younger generation and students. The sort of group who will always have youthful fans, rather than fans who grow old with them.

It is obvious it's going to be a manic kind of a gig by the fact that on arriving it takes well in excess of thirty minutes to get served at the bar, excitement is definitely in the air.

Singer Tim Wheeler launches straight into ‘Girl from Mars’ and its quickly apparent how many Ash songs have been ingrained into the nations subconscious, the fuse has been ignited and the front quarter of the crowd seem to be bouncing on a trampoline.

The rest of the gig seems like a greatest hits set which includes; ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Lose Control’ (which the teenage girls definitely seem to), ‘Jack Names the Planets’ and the recent top ten hit, ‘Shining Light’. The new catchy single, ‘Burn Baby Burn’ goes down well as does the dirtier sounding ‘Submission’.
Ash seem to know their audience well, for the majority of the venues for this UK tour are student unions, and although world domination is unlikely, student domination is rife. Like many mid-nineties indie bands, Ash sound dated; sounding more like 1997 than ‘1977’, it may be time for them to find a new musical direction.

Anyway, after the encore people leave, satisfied that they have heard what they expected.