[cc100]

The Ordinary Boys are suffering from the 'Preston effect'
May 9 2006
Claire Hill, Western Mail

The Ordinary Boys are suffering, I fear, from the 'Preston effect'. This is a seemingly innocuous set of events which makes you think that you can go on Celebrity Big Brother, survive, sell millions of records and retain credibility.

Oh what fools.

Where do I start with what was wrong with this gig?

Firstly, it's the first time I have been bored rigid in a long time at a concert, and I don't even hate this band. If I wasn't reviewing it, I'd have left half-an-hour into the set. And I think the rest of the band would've quite happily joined me.

Because while Preston blithely jumped around on stage, shouting about having a "last night of the tour" party, the rest of the band must have missed the memo.

Stone-faced and bored is the nicest way for me to describe William and James, on guitar and bass respectively. As for Simon on drums, he was happily tucked away at the back.

I've got it on good authority that their last gig in the union, less than half-a-year ago, saw the band jumping around and pretty much climbing the rafters.

That's before Celebrity Big Brother though and Preston's appearances in Heat.

Beginning with Over the Counter Culture - a song which features the lines 'this new fad will fade' - it was no doubt a reaction to the band's current time in the limelight.

That, however, seemed to go over the heads of the girls who had turned up to look at, take pictures of, and record Preston on their mobile phones.

Barring a few excitable Ordinary Army fans, who haven't felt let down enough to scratch their logo tattoos off, there were very few in the half-filled union who seemed to be intently listening to the band.

Given that the audience were struggling to get excited by versions of songs from second album Brassbound, and failing miserably with tracks from first album Over the Counter Culture, it seemed foolish to start a game of guess the obscure B-side.

This consisted of Preston trying to spot the die-hard fans in the crowd by singing even lesser-known songs than the seemingly lesser-known singles. It's a shame because songs like Week In and Week Out and Seaside are decent enough tracks.

And, as suspected, Boys Will Be Boys got the biggest cheer of the night.

Preston might have sung Life Will Be The Death Of Me, but Celebrity Big Brother could be the death of the Ordinary Boys.

[Razmataz]

It's also because of blood sucking Chantelle.

[Ruth]

I imagine it must be a bit tiresome for the rest of the band, as they are now better known for Preston being on BB, than for their actual music.

[Razmataz]

Originally posted by Ruth
I imagine it must be a bit tiresome for the rest of the band, as they are now better known for Preston being on BB, than for their actual music.

Exactly what the other thing i was thinking was!

I've confused myself.

[chilledbootz]

Seems like that woman should have been watching the stage rather than the crowd. She would have had a better time.

[No1MakosiFan]

I am getting sick of seeing these two. It is so OTT now and i think poeple will start and dislike them after a while.

[cc100]

I think its only a matter of time before Preston goes solo, and tries to make it on his own.

[Ruth]

Yeah, I think he'll be going solo soon. I'm not sure it would be a good move though.

[chilledbootz]

Well the boys were sounding good on Radio 1 this afternoon.

[cc100]

Originally posted by chilledbootz
Well the boys were sounding good on Radio 1 this afternoon.

Yeah, I heard this too.

The new single is pretty good, knock-about fun, if not exactly a classic. I think it should go top ten.

They are also at Radio 1's Big Weekend this weekend, live on Radio 1 and BBC3.

[chilledbootz]

Originally posted by cc100

Yeah, I heard this too.

The new single is pretty good, knock-about fun, if not exactly a classic. I think it should go top ten.

They are also at Radio 1's Big Weekend this weekend, live on Radio 1 and BBC3.

Im glad you heard them cc100. What did you think of their cover of The Streets?. I thought it was great and really funny lol

[cc100]

^I thought The Streets cover was, er, interesting!

Im not really a fan of The Streets but it was good to hear a different interpretation of that song.

[cc100]

From Colin and Edith diary......
"Our Road To The Big Weekend has come to an end! And what a way to finish. We had an amazing reception from the students at Dundee University Student's Union.

The Ordinary Boys helped us launch the weekend of live music with an unplugged version of Boys Will Be Boys and a cover of Streets When You Wasn't Fame. Preston even changed the original line, "fearing the next Mike Skinner scoop" to "fearing the next Prestelle scoop". By 3pm we decided to celebrate the end of our trip and the start of the weekend with a beer. "
You can listen to it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweeke...y/1.shtml#jump

[THE_JUNK_MAN]

Do you guys think The Ordinary Boys are good? I only like one of their songs "boy will be boys".

[xWee-Babezx]

I think their brill x

[cc100]

Originally posted by THE_JUNK_MAN
Do you guys think The Ordinary Boys are good? I only like one of their songs "boy will be boys".

They are ok, really, but nothing special.

Their first album is far superior, but Preston's singing voice gets quite tiresome over a whole album. Seaside is by far their best tune.

[BB-Rocks]

To be honest im not a fan and Preston doesn't have a good voice. I dont think smoking hleps him

[CharlotteSometimes]

Originally posted by Ruth

I imagine it must be a bit tiresome for the rest of the band, as they are now better known for Preston being on BB, than for their actual music.

I agree with the first part Ruth, but I'd say they're better known for Madness' music, given that two albums in they've still not managed anything that isn't essentially a pastiche.

[Fangz]

Originally posted by cc100
I think its only a matter of time before Preston goes solo, and tries to make it on his own.

Either that or they rename themselves 'Preston and The Ordinary Boys.'
They could even do a Marilyn Manson and simply rename the band 'Preston.'

[cc100]

Originally posted by CharlotteSometimes
I agree with the first part Ruth, but I'd say they're better known for Madness' music, given that two albums in they've still not managed anything that isn't essentially a pastiche.

Ok, Boys Will Be Boys has a ska feel to it, and a fair few of the songs on their second album do too, but their first album is more in the mould of The Jam, 'spiky punk' if you like.

Listen to the single 'Seaside' - quality.