"They don't want to be rockstars in the UK..." ...they want to be popstars. Rooster @ The Electric Ballroom Camdentown 2.22.05 by Shawna Adams Rooster Is: Nick Atkinson – vocals Luke Potashnick - guitar Ben Smyth - bass/backing vocals Dave Neale - drums And there's nothing wrong with that, if it sells CDs. And clearly, the recipe for success in the UK is to act like you're a boy band - even rock bands here would agree.

Tonight I ventured up to Camden Town in north London, an area widely known for its market and gothic teens prowling the streets, to see the UK band Rooster play to a sweating crowd of 13-year-old girls at the Electric Ballroom. It was a truly educational experience. My friends and I often complain about the overly youthful and feminine crowds at shows in New York, but this concert put things into perspective for me. The theme of the show seemed to be to “please the crowd," and while there's nothing wrong with that, there is something wrong when the band is trying to please the crowd not by their music, but by their body language. I don't mind a little sex appeal at a rock concert, certainly that can add to the experience. But while a little sex appeal goes a long way, a lot of sex appeal can make the show flat out laughable.

I found it hard to keep a straight face as lead singer Nick Atkinson put his pelvic muscles to use and sexed up the crowd of girls swooning over his every move, all the while crooning (rather well, I will admit) to the fantastic music his band, Luke Potashnick on guitar, Ben Smyth on bass, and Dave Neale on drums, was producing. Musically the band was tight and definitely worth the 10 pounds I paid to get into the show (that's roughly $20USD...). It was quite a surprise to get an impromptu strip show for my money, as well. Atkinson pleased the crowd by appearing for the band's encore shirtless, the screaming of girls that ensued deafening.

But amidst the sexual tension between a horde of TopShop-clad girls and this irresistible front man, there was the music, poppish rock with an attitude. While listening to their performance, a strew of resemblances popped into mind: from Christina Aguilera (their current single, "Staring at the Sun," strangely reminds me of "Beautiful"), to Pink, to Aerosmith...this band is on their way to something that could be quite unique. Bottom line: if you can mind the crowd and Atkinson’s strutting, Rooster puts on a great show. On second thought...maybe you should just invest your 10 pounds into purchasing their CD. www.roosterofficial.com

A note about the opening band, The Famous Last Words. First of all, none of their words will ever be famous, as long as 13-year-old girls are not running the world of music. Second of all, I wish their words tonight were their last. Who puts out a song about getting a haircut? I wish I could find the band's website just to get an exact lyric quote...something along the lines of "Your hair is too long everyone says, so you need to get a haircut, yeah, go get a haircut..." I think that's enough to prove my point. My little research of the band has informed me that they have opened up for the likes of Alice Cooper, Millencolin, Reef and Echo & The Bunnymen, and Billy Talent. What the hell is wrong with the world motherfuckers?!