Royal Republic - Their big in Germany but obnoxious in Oxfordshire!

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Rock 'n' Roll gone frat while the band are getting fat on the pay cheques!!!

Royal Republic ***1/2 (Truck Stage) are huge in Germany and they have brought a huge liner bus with them much bigger than the little buses of bands higher on the bill than them. I think this is a statement by Royal Republic we are big abroad you know, well they might be big abroad but they are not over here. It is nice to see them messing around like little kids later on with water pistols showing that they are enjoying the sunny Truck Festival as much as everyone else is. 

They have Rock 'n' Roll elements to their music and they use stop start techniques like The Clash used on their hit single 'White Riot' on most of their tracks. They are also led by a flamboyant frontman in the form of Adam Grahn who's facial expressions are really something to watch. He feels the music even though at time I find that he is a little obnoxious and some of the songs seem to similar and repetitive. I don't know if this is deliberate or it's just the way the band are but I can see why some people might be put off liking them because of this, especially in the UK.

From the infectious 'Presidents Daughter' that Rocks like a crazy lone gone for a date withThe Hives they show that they want to be big in the UK as well. They try to get the crowd going ot the sounds of 'Tommy-Gun' and you can see a few die hards getting into it and jumping up and down like they have never ever seen another band. So there are little groups all around the front of the stage getting into their groove.

The most annoying part of the set is a non stop version of 'Full stream Spacemachine' that seems to go on forever, I am sure this only has one riff in it. Strangely people seem to love it though and it does go down really well in the hot sun so maybe it's just not my cup of tea. The highlights of the set are when they blindfold Hannes Irengård with Gaffa tape and then he shreds on his guitar any ways play complicated guitar parts without being able to see and when someone screams out for the track 'Underwear' which they at first refuse to play messing around calling the guy who asked for it names, before they actually play the track in spite of saying they were not going to.

I wouldn't go and see Royal Republic out of choice they are a little too annoying for my liking, but they do put on a really good live show and I can see why people like them even though some of the songs are a little too similar for my likings. Catch Royal Republic in a club in a stadium in Germany anytime soon, I caught a plectrum that I think will be going back to Germany with the band. One of my friends who loves the band will love this, so maybe Royal Republic are the taste of Germany.

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

Check Out! the Video for 'Underwear' Below...