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KINO
Mean Fiddler, London Friday 22 April 2005

Debut London gig by the new band Kino who feature the talents of John Mitchell (Arena/ The Urbane/ John Wetton), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), John Beck (It Bites) and for the live shows they are joined by It Bites drummer Bob Dalton, as the album’s drummer Chris Maitland was unavailable for the gig.

The debut album will easily feature in my year-end top ten and as most of the album was aired tonight I was in seventh heaven. There was the blissful ‘Letting Go’ with its soaring harmonies and waves of keys, then there was ‘Losers Day Parade’ that features some scorching guitar riffs with a Beatles style harmony in one part as well!

The band seemed to be having a great time (despite vocalist/guitarists John Mitchell suffering from a head cold) and the audience were certainly lapping it up. Good turn out as well with a big helping of Marillion fans. John Beck’s keys are another highlight - he gets some wonderful sounds and adds greatly to the accessibility of the band’s music (‘Letting Go’ could easily get play listed on Radio 2 for instance).

The band’s other band’s also got a look in as we got an Urbane song, plus two It Bites tunes including the wonderful ‘Kiss Like Judas’ and Marillion’s ‘Afraid Of Sunlight’ which needless to say got the Marillion fans going bananas! Superb band, superb music, superb gig - long may they continue. Go see them live and buy the album!

Review: Jason Ritchie