Random Hand – perennially on tour it seems. Having seen them in 2007 supporting the ‘Voodoo Glow Skulls’ (at the now defunct Eastleigh venue ‘The Nexus’), and being taken aback by their sheer energy and rambunctiousness, this band have always interested me. I saw them again, early in 2008, on the ‘Rude Awakening’ tour, with Sonic Boom Six and Big D & the Kids Table, then once more, opening the Reading Festival Lock up stage. They have been gradually getting more and more attention, not least because of their incendiary live shows, including a tour of the US, with Riverside, California’s ‘Knockout’. After being warmed up by some local and lively support acts, Knockout, a three piece take the stage. If the stickers on the bassist’s guitar case were anything to go by, I thought, they would be a 90’s style skate punk band, a la ‘Millencolin’, with ska influences. It was not a surprise then, to see the amusingly eager faced bassist (imagine an enthusiastic cross between Jack Black and Tony Almeida (24) pulling any number of amusing and elastic poses, though it contrasted with the relatively static vocalist. The music was heavier than the band’s apparent influences, and they were very proficient at playing ‘really fucking fast’. A quick trip to the bands Myspace after shows that appearances can be deceiving; they list ‘Bad Religion’, ‘The Descendants’ and ‘Jack Johnson’ in their ‘sounds like’ section. Songs like ‘Generator’ and ‘Another Wasted Night’ receive warm applause from the crowd. To be honest though, ‘Hamptons’, as pleasant and friendly as it is, rarely generates a truly throbbing atmosphere for gigs and this was the case here too, even for the headliners.

Random Hand took to the stage and kicked off the set in a flurry. To the backdrop of the wet, shimmering Southampton roads (that you can see through the window of Hamptons), the band started putting on their show. Laying down a combination of old favourites ‘Scum Triumphant’, ‘Anthropology’, and blending it with new songs, destined to be parts of the live set in years to come – ‘Anger Management’, ‘Roots in the Crowd’, the band captivate the audience (even if they can’t get them moving yet). The set progresses at rapid speed, and the night soon draws to its conclusion. Before we go though, we are treated to an excellent rendition of new track ‘British’, and finally, emphatically, ‘Play Some Ska’, their ultimate ska-metal mash up.

Any ska fan who has seen Reel Big Fisht band and is thinking of giving the gig a miss, could do well to reconsider. If you prefer the heavier side of the band, then I highly recommend checking out their tour in support of thrash-punk legends, Propagandhi.