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Live Review from KERRANG! Issue #264 11th Nov. 1989 |
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Three Mancunians with a bucketful of diverse influences, High Bias are the most eclectic
band I've seen in many moons. Seeing them at Bolton's Central Park is a bit of a downer.
More atmosphere can be found in Krusher's Y-fronts and it's only marginally more depressing down there. High Bias play silken smooth rock music over which a deft spread of funk is liberally applied; The Dan Reed Network and Living Colour spring to mind as the obvious yardsticks, but High Bias have probably got more in common with George Benson on the one hand and Led Zeppelin on the other. The rhythm section is an all-black affair, and the behatted guitarist/vocalist is a pigmented Johnny Winter clone by the name of Phil Popplewell, a dirty white boy who's taken his blues to the doorstep of funk. Drummer Mike Richards and bassist Richard Mayers are exceptional, the latter also adding bell-like backing vocals as and when required, while Popplewell's clever intonations and gut wrenching phonetics cleave to your soul. Strange, but during their first song, "All Or Nothing", I couldn't get a handle on them, but as soon as they hit the first few bars of "Who Are You ?" I knew I was sold. The cleverly constructed ballad "All I Need" and the blues-funk "Girls Like You", which speeds to a whirlwind finish, took me lock stock and plaudit. DAVID GALBRAITH. |
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Live Review from KERRANG! Issue #329 23rd Feb. 1991 |
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Delivering as they do, a perfect blend of slick, accessible funk-edged rock,
High Bias will no doubt be dismissed by some as mere copyists. I first saw the band in
'89, however, before this whole funk rock phenomenon had found its stranglehold, and I
know they were playing in much the same style for a good while before that. The rhythm section, courtesy of drummer Mike Richards and bassist Richard Mayers, is exceptionally tight and precise, driving from behind but never dominating the eclectic guitar and wonderfully soulful voice of Phil Popplewell. The material too is excellent, pace and construction varied, but never losing the vibe and sound that is all their own. 'Not Much' could be a smash hit, 'Girls Like You', spirals madly towards a breathtaking finish and they perform a trio of ballads which display more depth, style and emotion than the 'token ballads' most middling rock bands could ever hope to reach. Being a three-piece, the visual appeal of the band is much less compulsive than the music and occasionally my attention was drawn away from the stage and towards the amusing barman who thought he was Tom Cruise. Even so, High Bias are the second best band in Manchester - and as Manchester happens to be the third largest city in the country, that is no small compliment.
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