Welsh rockers The Automatic are one of the great white hopes of the current UK indie scene and there is a serious buzz amongst the packed out Temple Bar Music Centre.
Anyone who caught these guys on Jools Holland during the summer knows that they’re an energetic live act and they don’t waste any time getting the crowd jumping around. Although bass player Rob is the lead singer, most of the band’s energy is channeled through keyboardist Pennie who has a very serious case of Frontman’s Syndrome. When not screeching backing vocals he’s prowling about the stage like a hyperactive child fed a steady diet of sugar sandwiches and Iggy Pop records. In a sense, he encapsulates both the best and worst of The Automatic. Passionate and loud they may well be, but songs like ‘Raoul’, ‘Team Dream’ and ‘Seriously, I Hate You Guys’ don’t really possess anything of serious substance. Highlight of the evening is their recent chart hit ‘Monster’ which is driven by ferocious drumming and Pennie’s synth. The song comes with the obligatory invitation to handclap and sing along loudly, which may be inspired by the hope that the crowd won’t recognise the stupidity of the lyrics if they’re making enough noise.
Their biggest mistake of the night is a cover of Kanye West’s exquisite ‘Gold Digger’ that lacks any of the sleazy punch of the original. Although The Automatic do manage to pick things up for the encore it’s not really enough to dispel the distinct whiff of the emperor’s new clothes that hangs over them.