Secret Machines @ Shepherds Bush Empire

The last nite of their UK tour, the finale of a 16 date extravaganza promoting current album Ten Silver Drops these psychedelic spaced out prog-rock cowboys took their tour de force phenomenon to its final destination, London's Shepherds Bush Empire, where a feast of new material from the current second album and number of favorites from their debut album were played out in front of a packed house.

After waiting over an hour, having arrived fairly early in the evening I was expecting to see that support act Prefuse 73 rumbling through their set. Not so! The stage lay bathed in an eerie blue light, the area set for the main act, but other than a small little guy in a white shirt, who was checking equipment at the back of the stage, there was nothing else going on. Had the support act cancelled? The usual background music was in full swing but that was taken as a given at any gig. To be honest thought, as I've never heard of Prefuse 73 and had no idea of what they were like I wasn't overall disappointed that tonite's show was a no go.

Secret Machines duly showed up on stage as the house lights went down and the in house music came to a crescendo. The set kicked off with Alone, Jealous and Stoned and The Road Leads Where Its Led. Major lighting effects were used through the set, which from my vantage point (level 1) It, at times, was very intense and almost overwhelming. My favorite song to date by SM has to be "Road Leads...", so I was eager to hear this gem and didn't have to long to wait. Though in a way I was slightly disappointed that it had been played so early on in the set. The whole set was in a word bombastic, Machines drummer (and I'm gonna be strung up for this because I've yet to work this out, who are they?) was on top form. And I mean TOP FORM!!!! Noel Gallagher gave him the best endorsement ever stating he played the drums like the ghost of John Bonham. A bold statement, totally justified. It was totally animated and a thoroughly power-driven exhibition of drumming, the best I've ever seen.

As the set unfolded in front of the packed venue, the band bashed their through song after song, ripping through tracks from both albums - Pharaoh's daughter, Your Are Chains, Sad and Lonely, Nowhere Again, First Wave Intact were awesome! From the new albums were Lightning Blue Eyes, Daddy's In The Doldrums & I Hate Pretending were pretty cool. Having only just bought a copy of the album I'm still getting to grips with the newer songs, so wasn't to sure what tracks where played from the latest offering. Opening number "Alone, Jealous..." was ace, pretty damn mental live.

This is the second time that I've seen Secret Machines live, the last time being just over a year ago, and not surprisingly I've completely forgotten how amazing their are live. Simply immense! The rumors that I've read about them playing Reading this year, I hope are justified and are they confirmed to play. It was an ace gig and I hope that the band return to Britain for another tour later in the year! If you've yet to see Secret Machines live, go see them now, you wont be disappointed!