A local band hand-picked from BCUC's musical depths are offered the surprise chance to headline at a leading London venue. Great, I thought. The privileged chance to tap into something as yet untapped. Boy, was I wrong.

Seeking out a transit bus, my lift for the evening, I found a car park brimming with wide-eyed students who had already heard of Reagan

Cue the big event. Gaberdine-clad sophisticates, beer-swilling teenagers, back to back in the high-ceilinged plush affair that is Leicester Square's Sound.

'Morning Star's big guitar sound, enveloped by the purring vocals of Allen McTaggart, proves the perfect intro anthem leaving the crowd hooked and thirsty for more.

Next, a few spicy techno jabs preluding 'Worldeaters' are served up leaving the energy levels set to explode. And they do. You could sense something amazing metamorphosing on stage. On one side tall, lithe and eerily beautiful Steve Hurdle leaned over his guitar like a protective lover.

On the other, Jamie Brown, whose theatrical and seamless transitions from guitar to keyboards to other noisy stuff go down a treat with his never-wavering need to groove. Right alongside, find Jez Dixon riding his keyboard like the surf and clutching a flashing light gun -as if we need any more fire. All this, plus the contemplative strumming of Raph Knapp on bass -all perfectly frame lead singer Allan McTaggart, whose sweet confidence and easy grin do nothing to betray a thundering voice of shocking maturity . Pitch perfection really comes into its own during 'Breaking Down', a mesmerising cadence that solidifies all opinions on Reagan's unbridled talent.

And with that they rip through their six-strong set, striding off then on again, as chants for an encore ring out and around.

True to rock and roll style the wind-down to 'New Gods' sees Hurdle do just that -right into the drum kit. Later, a promoter's promise to make them pay raises some smiles -as if people gathered that bills would soon pose no problems.

Reagan fit together like a limb. Their sheer vibration and passion take over completely, binding them to nothing but everyone else to them. Unlike the previous bands who worked the audience, these guys didn't even have to try.

Right through the evening a guy next to me just kept shaking his head in disbelief. "Just feel it," he mutters "Just feel it." Wise advice.

December 3, 2001 13:30