Bitten by It Bites

Posted on | October 27, 2011 | No Comments

Of all the many unsung bands lurking out there in MusicLand, It Bites are up there as possibly the most under-rated progressive rock band in the world. Their back catalogue is littered with crisply crafted songs and symphonic compositions to treasure. Until last night I had not had the very great pleasure of seeing them perform live.

If you relish: a Rush-like big fat long song with a catchy melody, unpredictable left turns and weird time-signatures; Queen-like soaring harmonic vocals; the power pop of The Feeling but want more balls; the complex and unpredictable compositions of Genesis; if you enjoy all these things then try It Bites. They are never, ever dull. They quote from hard rock, funk, blues, reggae, and in true progressive rock style combine the lot to produce something really vital, exciting and different. It shouldn’t work, but it does.

And so a small but enthusiastic crowd at Leamington Spa’s Assembly Rooms gathered last night to lap up whatever It Bites could throw at them. They didn’t disappoint.

Most of the musicians of the current line up John Mitchell (lead vocals, guitar), John Beck (keyboards, backing vocals), Bob Dalton (drums, backing vocals), Lee Pomeroy or Nathan King (bass guitar, backing vocals) make their living as session musicians and tour intermittently as It Bites.

The crowd bayed with delight as they performed It Bites favourites including Kiss like Judas, Old Man And The Angel, and the lyrical The Wind that shakes the barley, finally playing their hit Calling all the heroes, which you will remember, pop-pickers!

More please.