By Kathryn Courtney-O'Neill

I have always said if "The Day Before You Came" by ABBA wasn't a song then it would be a perfect piece of art. Tonight I watched a band who put this theory to the test and would certainly give Banksy a run for his money on that score. "Mesh" combined musicianship and song writing talent with imaginative images and film, only to add a unique mix of lighting to make that 'almost perfect piece of art'. I say 'almost' because "Mesh" have so much more to give and won't be leaving the music stage for a long time to come, I hope. They have too much creativity in their veins and it's about time the UK music industry woke up to these guys!
 

With a large screen at the back of the stage, sponsors and band members names are flashed across the screen to an introduction of drum beats and sequencing that sounds like film clicks and heavy doors closing each time. One by one the band members silhouettes make their way onto an unlit stage to take up position and they blast straight into their first song "Rest In Pieces". The back drop of lights compliment the drum beats with the song. This is followed by a superb dance mix of "Petrified". You can't help but dance to this whilst watching the film and light show at the same time. The words 'Petrified' fly across the screen with gun images and album cover images from "We Collide" whilst Rich plays guitar, no longer the suppressed rocker. "Headstone" is a new track to me and is from the early days of "Mesh". With it's raw power it fits perfectly into the live set, with great sound and vocal and the crowd love it too!

"This Is What You Wanted" is among several favourite tracks performed that night. With fabulous opening guitar rifts and the light show set in time with it, this is something you have to witness first hand. This is a heavy, urgent rock orientated song and at the back of the stage you see filmed images running by and song lyrics flashing up on screen in quick succession. Could this be Banksy on speed? In fact most songs performed that night are accompanied by some thought provoking images on film mixed with song lyrics and some arty shots.

Sometimes it's like whizzing through an art gallery of life. The good, bad, ugly and fun parts that happen in this great big world mixed with an all inspiring soundtrack. If this show was entered into the Tate Gallery I am sure it would win a top prize for creativity, imagination and sheer brilliance!

"Leave You Nothing" has this great anthemic chorus running through it and a strong vocal performance from Mark. This guy really has a voice very well suited to live shows and is mixed with a unique sound of harmonies, along with an inspirational bridge to the song. This is followed by another favourite "Not Prepared" and then "Open Up The Ground" with Mark on guitar accompanied with powerful keyboard playing from Rich and Geoff. This is a song with a great hook line chorus and a dance club hit written right across it.

There is effective white 'beam me up Scotty' spot and strobe lighting moving in time with the beat and an all worshipping audience clapping along with arms in the air. "Little Missile" has a new introduction and mix that has a certain urgency as the song sweeps along with a countdown on the back screen. You can draw your own conclusions on the meaning of this song.

"What Are You Scared Of" has an intro that reminds me a little of Russian duo T.a.T.u. With overlapping vocals and Geoff taking the lead on keyboards in superb fashion there is a continual rush of red and green lights across the stage and a chorus break of Mark on vocals only accompanied by Sean on drums. One missed beat would throw the song into chaos but Sean proves to be the perfectionist drummer throughout the show.

"Mesh" then make a return to their early days with the fast and furious "Fragile" and 'rocker Rich' returning to guitar. Images and song lyrics make a manic return to the back of the stage, whilst Rich and Mark compliment each other vocally with the mid tempo song "I Can't Imagine How It Hurts" mixed with emotionally moving images of people, poverty and life. "Friends Like These" has the influence of Depeche Mode but with electronic danceability whilst "My Hands Are Tied" is a dance floor hit. With Mark on guitar and the opening of the song just his vocal, everything else follows with a thumping chorus that would not be out of place in the UK charts. It marches along with great conviction.

"Crash" is another commercial song with fabulous vocal layers, anthemic rousing chorus and an underlying addictive keyboard mix that show cases electronic rock in it's full glory. It is certainly a favourite with the crowd who don't want the band to leave and continue to demand more until "Mesh" return to the stage for a couple more encores. 

"Firefly" moves along at great speed whilst "Room With A View" has a constant drumbeat throughout this mid tempo song. It is accompanied with some thought provoking images of a room and a window featuring pictures of Bush, Blair and Brown on the wall whilst through the window we see images of war. This is followed by the final song of the night, an extended version of "From This Height" that has fast dance beats and enthusiastic musicianship from the band themselves drawing an energetic conclusion to a memorable night.

"Mesh" proved why they are a headline act and not a support band for anyone, because they would only steal their thunder. Who needs boy bands and manufactured music when these guys are very capable of drawing the audience into their show for a full 90 minutes or more and on top of that give great entertainment value for money. This is electronic rock at it's best.

They showed how a concert should be. It was all them. No gimmicks, no costume changes. It was all about the music and how each song should really be performed ..... live. Their show has depth and imagination that lacks in many concerts today. There is a certain rawness to their performance that is matched with a down to earth quality. They love to be out on that stage and look very much at home. The atmosphere is electric and there is no dip in energy. "Mesh" are the band you have to see. You won't be disappointed. "Mesh" may well be big in Europe but they can certainly teach bands and artists today a thing or two about real talent. Everything about them is them and they will emerge as jewels in the crown of the British music scene ..... soon.

If you've missed them this time around, go out and buy their live DVD "The Worlds A Big Place" as compensation. You will get well and truly hooked to the "Mesh" phenomenon. This is one piece of art that is well and truly treasured. These highly talented Bristol gems certainly have a bright future. And I'll be first in the queue to buy my tickets to witness sheer brilliance all over again!