LIVE REVIEW Water Rats Theatre Monday 5th August 2002  Words by Sarah Thirtle

The Jeevas About 6 years ago Kula Shaker shimmied their way onto the British music scene - all Indian mysticism and 60's inspired tunes and suits. A devoted fanbase grew, mostly drawn by the charismatic, eccentric, and sometimes out spoken (he proclaimed that Kula Shaker would be the biggest band in the world by the turn of last century) Crispian Mills. Now, older, wiser, and certainly more reflective, Crispian returns with his new band The Jeevas. I asked him about what he's been up to since then and now. "I was floundering for two years not knowing what to do. I was trying out some ideas, meeting interesting people. Not getting anywhere…" One of the idea's he tried in that time was going solo, which included a tour as support for Robbie Williams. It seems that it is only within a band that Crispian truly feels comfortable. He adds, "…we sort of got together in January with the view of doing some tracks, and it was so good that I scrapped everything I was doing," to concentrate fully on The Jeevas. "We wrote and recorded an album in six weeks so we are very pleased with ourselves." The feeling within the band is certainly one of coming together and having fun, and just going with it. They share a love of the same music idols, with both Crispian and Andy (the drummer) waxing lyrical of a dream band consisting of most of Led Zeppelin with added Hendrix, and even Patrick Moore on Xylophone! Joking aside, Crispian is under no illusions about the task ahead of him. "You have to enjoy everything you've got," he explains, "You have to enjoy [The Water Rats] as much as you enjoy the Astoria. And if you don't enjoy every moment, you're constantly looking ahead and your whole life becomes a fucking rip off. So right now it's good." Crispian's fanbase certainly haven't deserted him judging by the capacity crowd in the venue. And, as with his previous band, after a couple of songs in, it is clear that his commitment to the performance is as strong as ever. He sure can play the guitar, bounding about the stage and pulling off some screaming riffs, all while giving 100% to the vocal. It is not for lack of energy that The Jeevas doesn't quite hit home. Whereas Kula Shaker added an exotic and retro twist to the Britpop scene of the time, The Jeevas are still mining in the same vein. They have stripped off the slightly twee Indian leanings, but remain with the very retro sounding guitar rock circa late 60's/early 70's - the Led Zeppelin/Hendrix influences making themselves known in no uncertain terms. If it wasn't for that fact that each member of this three-piece band play their respective instruments so damn well, The Jeevas could so easily be a 6th form band who have just discovered their Dads' old vinyl collection, and running with the one idea. This is exacerbated by the covers they perform. As well as Kula Shaker's Hush (a cover of a Joe South song, also covered by Deep Purple), The Jeevas performed You Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It?) by The Undertones. The covers and the Kula Shaker hits performed also serve to shadow The Jeevas own new material. A303 and Hey Dude are real crowd pleasers, and sound fantastic in a warm and fuzzy, reminiscent, kind of way. But warm fuzziness can also be got from a duvet and hot water bottle. This doesn't make GREAT music. Great music is vital, edgy, and dangerous, taking the listener on an uncharted journey. The Jeevas musical landscape has been well and truly mapped and plotted. They are like a handy pocket sized guidebook, pointing out the features of note along the way, ("…on your left you will find a Hendrix style guitar riff, while on your right please view the 60's inspired lyrics…"). Ground breaking The Jeevas may not be, but there is no getting away from the fact that Crispian and his band do what they do so, so well. And, as he pointed out, you have to enjoy everything that you do, and this is also abundantly clear. So, if you fancy a trip around the last thirty years of rock, jump on The Jeevas' bus, and they'll enjoy taking you for a ride. Reviews Archive: Laptop, Maroon 5, The Parkinsons, Guitar Vader, The Raveonettes, Mono, Dawn of the Replicants, Demo Workshops, The Wannadies, Mclusky, Alanis Morissette, The Leaves & Phantom Planet, The Breeders, Freeheat, The Hives, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Peter Yorn, Jason Mraz, Mary Guibert