Fucked Up front man Pink Eyes is anything but shy. By the second number tonight we are treated to the sight of much of his sizeable frame, and apparently we have a scapegoat for the flesh on show, ‘Beth Ditto taught me to lose my inhibitions…’, he announces as he whips off his shirt. However, one would suspect that he never really had any in the first place. By the next song he has decided that the stage at Corporation is much too high, and that he should get out there and mix in with the throng.
He shows us exactly why he made it to ‘number 11 on the NME cool list’ and ‘deserves to be higher’. Put frankly, the man is a nutter. Careering around the room, he sticks the mic in the faces of some, carries others on his shoulders and covers all in his sweat. At one point he even visits the bar next door in order to fetch himself a mid-song drink, announcing that he’d ‘forgotten [his] lyrics’. We definitely forgive him, especially as he had proceeded to get on top of the bar and see out the remainder of the song laying ‘seductively’ on one side.
With all this going on, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that he actually had companions onstage. As it is however, they need not rely solely on their focal point, churning out some of the most interestingly arranged hardcore you’re likely to have heard in a while. Three layered guitars provide deep texture to their sound, and tonight the band are rugged, yet solid, keeping up with the exuberance of both singer and crowd. If you’re looking for an intense live experience, overflowing with anarchic spectacle, then look no further.
Monday 17 November 2008
Thursday 30 October 2008
Mirimar Disaster @ Foundry 30/10/08
October 30th, the night before Halloween, also known as Devil’s Night or Mischief Night. A night where there is something of an urban tradition for youths to commit pranks and acts of vandalism to create a disquieting sense of chaos.
You would be forgiven for thinking something of this sort was occurring down in the confines of The Foundry on Thursday night, as gremlins ensured local metal prospects The Mirimar Disaster found a whole host of technical issues throughout their set at the union’s Bleach Halloween special.
Opening the night, Calvinball emerged in togas to rousing film score and proceeded to entertain the crowd with melodic punk that could have come straight out of Southern California rather than Steel City.
Sporting proton packs and boiler suits, The Mirimar Disaster took to the stage to the Ghostbusters theme, showing a sense of humour which usually lies deep beneath their moody soundscapes. Things start well, holding the full attention of the crowd with the Mastodon-esque riffery of ‘Volumes’, the title track of their latest EP release. But it isn’t long before things fall apart, instruments cut out and the band are forced to take a lengthy break in the middle of their set to reorganise themselves.
After the break, the band had lost a little of their momentum and were obviously frustrated, but their potential still shone through, particularly in their display of post-rock influences, building and swelling to reach epic crescendos in the style of Isis and Cult of Luna.
Alas, the set was tragically short and continued to be dogged with sound complications. The lasting impression left was generally of all that could have been on this Halloween party night. The ghosts, ghouls and zombies were reasonably entertained, but having seen them supporting Devil Sold His Soul, I knew what these guys are capable of. It is unfortunate that they could only show glimpses of that to the uninitiated on the night, but at least the costumes were a success.
You would be forgiven for thinking something of this sort was occurring down in the confines of The Foundry on Thursday night, as gremlins ensured local metal prospects The Mirimar Disaster found a whole host of technical issues throughout their set at the union’s Bleach Halloween special.
Opening the night, Calvinball emerged in togas to rousing film score and proceeded to entertain the crowd with melodic punk that could have come straight out of Southern California rather than Steel City.
Sporting proton packs and boiler suits, The Mirimar Disaster took to the stage to the Ghostbusters theme, showing a sense of humour which usually lies deep beneath their moody soundscapes. Things start well, holding the full attention of the crowd with the Mastodon-esque riffery of ‘Volumes’, the title track of their latest EP release. But it isn’t long before things fall apart, instruments cut out and the band are forced to take a lengthy break in the middle of their set to reorganise themselves.
After the break, the band had lost a little of their momentum and were obviously frustrated, but their potential still shone through, particularly in their display of post-rock influences, building and swelling to reach epic crescendos in the style of Isis and Cult of Luna.
Alas, the set was tragically short and continued to be dogged with sound complications. The lasting impression left was generally of all that could have been on this Halloween party night. The ghosts, ghouls and zombies were reasonably entertained, but having seen them supporting Devil Sold His Soul, I knew what these guys are capable of. It is unfortunate that they could only show glimpses of that to the uninitiated on the night, but at least the costumes were a success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
