Ready To Rumble From The Boston Globe 5-7-01
There's something comic about the word ''rumble.'' It's a dated colloquialism that invokes visions of
well-scrubbed hoodlums in neatly pressed, tight trousers prancing through choreographed fight
scenes, backed by a Leonard Bernstein soundtrack. In short, there's nothing frightening about it.
We can safely say that tonight's WBCN Rock 'n' Roll Rumble will be grittier and hold more
surprises than that Broadway notion of a rumble. This is only the second night of the Rumble, but
the battle is going to get messy at the Middle East. Tonight, buzz-worthy pop master Bleu is on
the bill. His album ''Headroom'' is obscenely catchy and shamelessly grand. It practically screams
''ready for the big time.'' We're so taken with his song ''Save You From Yourself'' that we're willing
to overlook the tiny fact that the tune ''Feet Don't Fail'' sounds like it was lifted from the Styx platter
''Paradise Theater.'' While there may be little doubt that the cocksure Bleu is headed to the finals,
he's not getting there without a fight. The Kitty Kill is looking to wipe the floor with Bleu's
enormous mutton chops and then deposit the singer in the litter box as it moves on to rock 'n' roll
greatness. The all-female trio bangs out aggressive, punky pop. Also on the bill are Slater and
Reach for the Sky. The battle begins at 8:30.