This exciting View is well worth a look

Kings College, London Students' Union, 19th October 2006

If you bought The View's debut single, which crashed into the charts at No15 in August, then you might have some idea of what the Scots four-piece sound like. Wasted Little DJs is jangly, raw and catchy. But nothing you can buy really prepares you for the exciting experience of seeing this special new band live.

It's little wonder then that Rough Trade A&R guru James Endeacott (the man who signed The Libertines) nearly fell over himself getting The View to sign to his new label, 1965. And their forthcoming debut album was recorded by Owen Morris, who produced The Verve's Urban Hymns and Oasis's Definitely Maybe, and Primal Scream's leading man Bobby Gillespie is a big fan. Hailing from near Dundee, The View have an average age of 18, and it was striking just how young they look - a mess of curly hair, volatile skin and recalcitrance. But the fervour with which they sang and played made their three-minute songs feel mighty.
The View's guitar hooks recall The Clash, but equally some chord changes sounded like The Wonder Stuff's Unbearable and their rompy basslines summoned the spirit of Chas 'n' Dave.

Ultimately though, The View sound like youth, in all its sweaty, manic glory. The show's pinnacle arrived with their hit. The audience roared, and two young ladies in shiny blouses ran onstage and ooh-ed into singer Kyle's microphone. Then with the same immediacy as they began, Bang! It was over. No encore. Just a very, very happy crowd.


by Sophie Harris, This Is London