| 07 August 2011
If The Darkness, bitter but still hopeful after their ejection from the stadiums and festivals that they formerly headlined, lost their rhythm section and took up stand-up comedy (not a bad idea if you happen to be reading this, Justin Hawkins) it would probably look something like Rayguns Look Real Enough, a storming mash-up of great rock songs, tiger jokes and just a touch of pathos.
Ray Guns (the one in the catsuit) can’t help harping back to his glory days as frontman of Britain’s biggest band, while Luke Real (you see where this is going) is determined to make something out of their descent into obscurity. Whoever E. Nough might be is never revealed. Possibly he’s the missing drummer.
Punctuating the comedy, which unfortunately occasionally falls a little flat—partly a result, no doubt, of a somewhat sparsely occupied venue—is a selection of rather clever medleys, featuring artists as diverse as Aloe Black, Vanilla Ice and Ram Jam. The song that won them the Alternative Eurovision this year is on raucous display, as well as a nice ‘rap battle’ with the more outspoken members of the audience. The pair is undoubtedly hugely musically talented, and it’s a shame that a couple of the jokes aren’t as well constructed as the brilliant mash-ups.
Having lost all their former fans, Rayguns are sure to make many more as they boldy rock out. With a couple of minor reservations, they can count this reviewer amongst that number.
Rayguns Look Real Enough: Balls Deep, Assembly Three, 3-29 Aug, 6.40pm
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