Night 2 of Big Sound Live started off with Richard In Your Mind at the Artisan
Gallery. The hype surrounding them is
very real; hopefully with the rise of Tame Impala, MGMT’s new album and the
on-going popularity of The Flaming Lips means there will be a larger resurgence
of psychedelic rock, as the early crowd points out.

It’s now time to head off the beaten track to one of the “unofficial”
showcases going on.  It’s called the
Small Sounds Showcase at the Step Inn, featuring Returns, Hundred Bad Guys
With Swords, Dead Shades and The Mercy Beat.

First up, Returns.  Throwing down some foot stomping rock tunes,
it’s unfortunate they play to a largely empty room. Returns have a very nice
style, and come across as well practiced, with some great tunes behind
them. Hopefully during their upcoming
album launch they’ll receive a larger crowd.

Hundred Bad Guys With
Swords, with a similar hard rock edge to Returns, are in fine form, but suffer the same empty room. On the
strength of their songs, they’re great, however by the end of their set, I’m
left feeling slightly bored.

Dead Shades,
after a short false start, bring a bit of a crowd into the main room.  It’s bluesy rock with a grunge edge, with
chunky riffs and prominent bass.  Having
just launched their EP and supporting great acts such as Grand Atlantic and Black
Cab, it’s not hard to see how they’ve been playing some great shows and house
parties lately.  The songs have been
beefed up a bit, possibly to run alongside the hard rock bands playing with
them, but it still retains a unique feel for the night.

Finally, The Mercy
Beat.  Having only just recently
launched their debut album last month, the show still has a huge impact.  With enough dedicated fans to fill out the
room, the boys smash their way through the album, including the outstanding
8-minute epic "More Chemistry Than A
Science Fuck Up". 
It’s hard rock, but
different to Returns and Hundred Bad Guys With Swords; it has a weird unique
edge that elevates the band head and shoulders above the other acts
tonight. With many copies of the EP
being seen at the conference, I can only hope that the guys go far and wide.