Working Men’s Club at Rough Trade

24 July, 2022

I have seen Working Men’s Club a few times and I have left uncertain if I like them. The last time I saw them was just before lockdown at the 100 Club supporting The Murder Capital, where I had been partially won over by their efforts. So I thought I would give their album release show a try. Tonight made up my mind which side of the fence I sit on.

They are an odd band. They don’t appear to quite know what they want to be. Last time I saw them, the lack of drummer was at least offset by the singer playing an electronic drum pad while performing. Tonight seemed to be a different line-up to that pre-pandemic. The drum pad had been disposed of, with a relentless 80s weedy thin drum machine sound replacing it. Keys at times veered towards the Horrors tone. But without the goth. They appeared to have lost a guitarist and gained more keys. A change for the worse.

Tonight’s sound was really thin. Improving when the guitars came out. The rest of the time sounding like poor early 80s pop band. The singer was the only performer remotely animated. To be honest, everyone but him, seemed pissed off with performing and it wouldn’t surprise me if they were annoyed by his antics. He seemed to have pouched up some Mark E Smith affectations, constantly turning knobs on the keyboard player’s keyboard. Meanwhile he did little to engage with audience. I have to admit, I wasn’t impressed by the music or the performance. I have made up my mind. I have better things to do with my time.

Set List