2011 Edinburgh Fringe
Axis of Awesome review
Is there something I'm missing here? That was the question on my mind as I left the Gilded Balloon amid a sell-out - and obviously very happy - crowd who had just seen The Axis Of Awesome. The Australian mock-rock trio are Fringe favourites, having now been elevated from a basement venue in 2008 to one of the biggest at the Balloon.
While I can see they are technically talented and have an ability to write songs, I'm sad to say I didn't gel with it. For a start, the name doesn't match the band. I, having never seen them before, envisaged a Spinal Tap-esq parody; perhaps I should have done more research. Instead, it was like watching your older brothers rehearse in the garage - admittedly with flashing lights, inflatables and a stonking sound system.
Which leads me nicely to the next issue - the sound level was just too loud. There were times I couldn't hear a word they were singing, which was disappointing to say the least. Don't get me wrong - I didn't dislike them as such. They are capable of holding a show, but it felt weak and a bit insipid. I felt they were relying on moderately amusing stand-up style banter in between the songs too much.
The songs themselves were good (the ones I could hear anyway) but they did not have me running outside to buy the CD. I really, really liked two - one about KFC and the other parodying that horrible whining dance music the "yoof of today" play from bass speakers installed in the boot of their dad's Vauxhall Corsa. That is the sort of stuff I expect from a comedy rock band, and I would have loved to have heard more of this.
I don't know... maybe I've got it all wrong. After all, their YouTube videos have clocked up more than 25-million hits. And as I left the venue, there were many happy people with smiles on their faces. I haven't been on the same journey but nevertheless, it's always heartening to see a comedy outfit with a cult following.
I've given three stars because I can see, despite my indifference, that Axis are good and have researched what they do. I wished I liked them more, but for me, I laughed the most at my friend's look of dismay when they came back on for an encore.