Hundred Reasons - Live at Freakscene
The past few years have seen some turbulent times for Surrey five piece Hundred Reasons. Working their collective behinds off to release a top ten debut album, countless top 20 singles and numerous sold out tours saw such hard work congratulated in true major label style, the band unceremoniously dropped from Sony records in June 2004 after follow up album 'Shatterproof Is Not A Challenge' sold marginally less than the debut.
A year in the wilderness ensued which saw the band searching for a new label, a perhaps ironic Kerrang recognition for best unsigned band and plans for a first official DVD release. Plans made to fruition here on 'Live at Freakscene.' Recorded at a show at the back end of 2004 at Exeter University this is the sound (and vision) of a band out to prove they everything to gain and nothing to loose.
For most other bands, releasing an entire DVD based purely on one concert devoid of any extras other than a solitary interview could prove to be a mistake. With Hundred Reasons, however, there is a difference. This is a band whose live performance is so consistently captivating it almost demands complete attention from frenetic opening to the very sweaty bitter end and if the main point of this DVD is to remind us of the true power of Hundred Reasons live, then point proven and entertainment well and truly complete.
The multi-camera angles get straight to the core of the performance and to the tangible energy whilst the almost DIY aesthetic to the raw handicam shots and of the varied sound mix only serves to add to the atmosphere and to the sense that this is a band truly at home live on stage.
Music wise, it is a very fan friendly set list with highlights from both albums and various ep's all included. 'I'll Find You,' 'Silver' and 'What Thought Did' highlights from the debut while 'What You Get' and 'Pop' from 'SPINAC' translate well proving what an underrated album that was. It is left though to 'Remmus' a song from early in their career to provide the undoubted highlight, the band positively threatening to break through the TV screen and smash things in your front room.
Now re-signed to V2 and with an new album in production, how Hundred Reasons will fare from his point onwards remains to be seen but what does now exist in 'Live At Freakscene,' is a true document of a band on peak form in an arena in which label politics and corporate intrusion mean nothing and good music and good times mean the world.