Buzzin Music

Mouthwash live at Rainham Mark Social Club, Rainham, Kent, Sunday 4th June

Ska, dubstep, reggae, punk, grime. Quite a list of genres for one band to infuse but that’s Mouthwash’s claim.  Surely they can’t really play so many different styles in one set, right? Wrong. In fact it’s impossible to pigeonhole them into any genre, but I’m not sure that works to their advantage…

With a lead singer who was born to sing ska and a bunch of talented musicians, it was hard to fathom why they felt the need to add the random dance beats that were thrown from a synthesizer and keyboard.

As a ska band they are brilliant. Fresh, full of energy, and they certainly know how to get 30-odd people dancing in a small social club hall.  But the constant ‘dubstep’ beats from a keyboard drowned out the musicians and created an unwelcome distraction.

I’m not a big dubstep fan anyhow but maybe they just feel the need to fit in.  For me that’s a big mistake because they’d be far better sticking with ska.  After doing a bit of research on the band I realised their fatal flaw – the computer-aided beats work fine in the recording studio but it just doesn’t translate in a live performance.

For a band that have been on the live circuit for more than ten years, you’d have thought they’d have perfected their live sound.  But the small crowd seemed far more impressed that me.

Frontman Ben McCarthy certainly knew the right way to throw himself around the stage, and got fans throwing themselves around the dancefloor.

The band claim influences such as Rancid, Less Than Jake and The Vandals.  For me they borrowed more from The Specials but managed to create a pretty unique sound.  Just a shame it was far more accomplished in recording than the distorted live effort.

For a band used to lbig crowds and amazing venues I think they did their best for a dowdy social club in the Medway Towns. I’m sure with a better atmosphere and an appropriate venue, their infusion of sound might be more enjoyable.

Passionate about their music, they certainly are on the right path.  However, I think if they stuck to their obvious talent for ska they would get much further, and i’d definitely be one of their fans!