Far From Unruly

The Hooligans – c:union, Guangzhou – 24/4/09

A Hooligan in British culture is not a name any erudite person would self-apply. As a band name, The Hooligans conjures up some idea of an unruly hardcore punk outfit, out to propagate Anarchy in the PRC. Guangzhou based rock outfit, The Hooligans are anything but a motley crew revolutionaries. Made up of Chris Martin and Smitti from California, Cliff Johnson from Vancouver as well as GZ locals, Xu Ge and A Gu, The Hooligans are a middle class, cosmopolitan club who predominantly play blues based American rock from the 60s-70s. Following the recipe of many a pub band before them - playing to thinly populated blues bars on Sunday nights throughout the west - their performance was only a notch above the pack of classic rock cover artists.

Ability was in no short supply with every instrumentalist holding their corner. Energy levels didn’t waver throughout the lengthy hour and a half-set and the choice of covers - from The Band’s ‘Up On Cripple Creek,’ through to lengthy Allman Brothers-esque ‘Norwegian Wood’ – displayed discernment and finesse. Vocalists / Guitarists Martin and Johnson gave soulful if imitative performances that sustained a reasonable level interest and appreciation from the largely local audience and a few original songs gave some credence to artistic integrity that c:union has earned its reputation promoting.

Having only been together for a year or so, one can only hope that with time the band will begin to pen more of their own material and make music that is slight less cliché and more innovative. Though likable, tight and competent, The Hooligans lacked the orginality that could distinguish them in any way from my father's classic rock collection and had it not been for the buzzing atmosphere in c:union, I might have well stayed in and watched the Last waltz. ** 2/5