On the market as a shiny (glistening with sweat anyway) new manic-punk trio, Johnny Foreigner should be America’s latest gift to the music industry. After all, they play with the confidence that all American’s carry and they’ve got that trademark American whine. But they’re from Birmingham – the home of reggae-popsters UB40 and metal thrashers Black Sabbath. And though they may not carry the novelty of the former or the demeanour of the latter, they’re clearly positive that they’ve got the formula spot on…
From the moment ‘Champagne Girls I have Known’ rips its way from the amps and shreds the expectant atmosphere like a crazed ex-lover, people stop standing with their eyes glazed over by a drunken film and start forming a mosh pit that’ll only leave room for those sweaty enough not to care about their trendy getup. Frontman Alexei’s vocals are disjointed with a Help She Can’t Swim-whine to them, brought together by gap-filler and bassist Kelly with Slits-worthy shouts.
‘Eyes Wide Terrified’ sounds like Athlete circa Vehicles and Animals. A hushed intro with gentle guitars teeters along before pausing for thought and diving into the early days of Idlewild, when they still rocked out with harmonic screams and rhythms fast enough to fall for. Every gasp they take as though it’s their last, sweating profusely at just how much energy they’re putting into this. Alexei’s fringe is past drenched, forming a little lake on his forehead and adding to the raw, genuine quality of these guys.
Along with drummer Junior, Johnny F is essentially three kids trying to produce the noise of six, and succeeding by the skin of their teeth. There’s a fine line between mess and art, and this Brummy-trio are walking it with two fingers up.
