Hallam Union's 'Rock Idol' Battle of the Bands by Pete Mella Seven bands slogged it out for supremecy at the NMB. We were there to check it out. Competitors ready!    Yes, it’s ‘Rock Idol’ at the NMB tonight, a competition to find the greatest of the seven guitar-loving bands playing tonight. And although the main requisite of tonight was the bands must rock, we saw some very different bands, all doing different things with their sound.    Up first is Nex, a Huddersfield act who fare very well with their ungodly early 7pm start time, and give us a rather good few songs of head-banging shouty metal. My fellow L2SBer pointed out a slight Incubus-esque tone to their vocals at times, and they proved to be a very good start to proceedings. Good stage presence, good songs, and just generally good all round.    Fred Yukka next, a band that reminded us of a bit of shonky New Wave, especially The Fall at times. The music was very good, but the band’s habit of playing songs bassless didn’t work too well, and god only knows what the singer was doing with that huge phallic silver shaker-type instrument during the first song.    The Haze are a youngish band, that have already got a very polished sound and good craftsmanship when it comes to songs. The presence of a tambourine, and the indie-ish nature of the songs, didn’t bode well in tonight’s rock-themed contest. Good band, but maybe in the wrong competition...    Mybe, on the other hand, fit in perfectly. Those Chesterfield cheeky-chappies did their usual infectious brand of dumbass pop punk and onstage banter, although they weren’t the best we’ve seen them. You got the impression they weren’t to arsed about winning, to be honest. Damn fine band though, and I found myself singing their song with the “nah nah nah” bit in it for ages afterwards.    1600e, like The Haze, also had a tambourine, and played storming R&B (in the old style), more Northern Soul than indie rock, and one of the best bands of the night. Maybe their difference to the more mainstream rock bands tonight may go against them on the judge’s panel, although they probably got the best audience reaction of the night.    Ravenscar next, and good tight band who performed something of an 80s-style take on rock, which for some reason reminded me of Ash meets Bon Jovi. Another talented act, but their rather tested brand of music and their propensity for guitar widdling lost them points in my eyes. Got the crowd going, though.    Finally Burst Rondo (Modus were billed but obviously had to pull out). This Leeds band were actually bloody good, the shorn-haired singer really giving it some welly as they rocked their way through some utterly solid and noisy tunes. A slightly funky nature also helped them, and I could have happily watched them beyond their allotted four songs.    So, speculation and tension mounted as the winner was announced and it was… Ravenscar! A surprise in some ways, but I don’t envy the judges in picking between the prime rock talent on show tonight. And as I’ve said, they were a talented bunch, they just didn’t grab me as much as some of the others tonight.    So congratulations to Ravenscar, who were awarded a rather spanky new Fender guitar and “some booze”. We at L2SB look forward to future contests but, obviously, as good as tonight’s gigs were, full on Gladiatorial combat would be preferred in future. Rock on!  February 27, 2003 10:00pm