| There is a rule-of-thumb which states that, in any given multi-band line-up, there will be at least one stinker. It’s the logical extension of always hating the support band. It is a testament to Gringo Records, therefore, that for their tenth anniversary celebration, not a single stinker was to be had. Alright, we missed Andy Clambake and Designer Babies, and most bands only had half-an-hour but even so – today was a great day. |
| Hirameka Hi-Fi appeared quite self-conscious upon taking the stage. Their drummer looked bored and all but the bass player looked like they didn’t want to be there. But this was shaken off with the first few sharply grinding riffs and punk screams. |
| Hey Colossus ramped the heat of afternoon up still further. They seemed to have spent the two years since I last saw them honing their riffs into quite magnificent aural blades. Down to two guitars rather than three, the band were no less powerful and drew the largest audience so far. |
| Owen Tromans and the Elders were considerably less heavy, with – shock, horror – lyrics you could hear (most of the time). If Jack Dee suddenly took over the running of The Wedding Present, I imagine that this is what it would sound like and look like – even down to the female bassist and second guitarist with some off-the-wall kit (a Fender Starcaster and WEM amp, in this case). My gigging companions left near the end as Tromans announced a song about the Spanish Civil War (which I’m afraid I’ll have to take his word for) and therefore missed whirling his Strat around from the floor, with restrained abandon. |
| Reynolds were reforming for this evening, apparently. Rumbling boogie for the most part, things became quite scary with the appearance of a vocalist towards the end of their set. Let’s not put too fine a point on it – he howled until the microphone melted and for a few minutes they were a completely different band. |
| Sailors had all the right attitude and rhythms but I’m afraid their music made little impression – but give it time and who knows? |
| Souvaris’ closest musical comparison is with Mogwai – something they may very well be heartily sick of by now, but there you go. It has to be said. However, thanks to the interplay between guitars and keys looping over and around each other, they do go to places of their own. The first band to really transport anyone anywhere this evening, and the first band to create a bit of a party atmosphere by giving out party poppers and trumpets – in the right key for the last tune, as well. |
| The Unit Ama having unfortunately pulled out, we were next thrust firmly into party time by Lords. Starting with the truly inspired I Want To See You Drunk And Dancing Like A Russian, the band didn’t let up for a second of their all-too-short set. They closed with Pint of Wine – and if that song doesn’t make you move, you’d better (as the phrase goes) check your pulse. Once again utterly fantastic and once again I have to ask – surely some decent headline shows of their own? Soon? |
| Bilge Pump. Despite further excellence from the ‘Pump boys, I am afraid I spent almost their entire set recovering from ‘dancing’ during Lords’. More swampy brilliance, plus a topless amp and the most subtle use of a Kiss lyric ever to close their show. |
| The arse-boilingly loud Part Chimp finished us, their equipment and the stage set off. You can’t follow Part Chimp, since one of their priniciples is ‘turn it up, turn it up again, then rip the back off and turn it up all the way.’ Despite being bass-less, they made more noise than I thought it possible for three men to make with musical instruments, short of strapping them to a bomb and detonating it inside a Selmer cranked to within an inch of its life. Like Sunn o))) , Part Chimp seem not to be playing their guitars so much as their amps – with drums riding over the top like the four horsemen of the apocalypse on one horse. The birthday banner came down, the amps were knocked over (and replaced with no let-up in volume), a guitar was used as a cymbal – exhilarating, to say the least. I closed my eyes at one point and could feel the sound attempting to push them back out of my head – as if Black Sabbath had been distilled down to its essence and then electro-shocked back into life. |
| Here’s to another ten years! |
