Band review

1. Sutton Guardian Newspaper, Scene Leisure Pages<br />Music Review – Rhesus<br />A picture of the Kingston-based band Rhesus immediately leapt into my head as their EP No Commercial Value played, writes Samantha Hunter.<br />I could feel their intensity and excitement firing out through their punk rock tunes. I could see them chaotically thrashing about on stage – their passion is clear and unmistakable.<br />Formed in 1998, Rhesus’ four members all have very different personalities and tastes in music: enigmatic song-writer Wayne (guitar and vocals) sparring the outgoing and cynical Paul (bass and vocals), with quiet and reserved Charlie (drums), and relaxed, confident, twisted Jim, who joined this year, also on guitar and vocals.<br />The band describes themselves as: “Ramones meets Iggy and the Pixies multiplied by the Pistols and the Clash” and they’re not far off.<br />Juvenile kicks off with a strong bassline, tight drumming and a catchy chorus. And once again, Charlie’s drumming is outstanding in Still Breathing.<br />Although this explosive band recorded their demo in a shed in Kent, their raw sound is highly professional and won’t disappoint.<br />Short interview with Rhesus:<br />What are your positive and negative musical influences?<br />Positive: The Pixies, Ramones, Iggy Pop, Datsuns and Desperacidos.<br />Negative: General wishy-washy boring Travisesque Aqualung-style drawling and the obvious manufactured pop TV programme famous ‘coz mummy and daddy sent me to stage school’, dullard ‘love you baby, don’t say maybe’ soulless tunes.<br />Describe the current music scene and how easy or difficult is it for a new band to succeed?<br />Very difficult due to public swaying towards apathetic, short, cut-to-thinking tunes. If a band has true passion and drive it is really hard to get noticed, you just have to keep at it. We have had loads of very positive feedback and things are looking good for the future.<br />What are your worst and best experiences as a band?<br />Everything has been pretty cool to be honest, no real bad stuff. Best moment was lying in bed at midnight on a Thursday when the producer from the John Peel Show called me to tell me that John would be playing Juvenile in five minutes on Radio One. That and a few excellent gigs, one that sticks in the mind is last week at the Dublin Castle.<br />