Dream Wife opened the evening and went down well with audience. They’ll definitely have won over a new crowd.

Likewise Shame didn’t do themselves any harm, with an excellent set.

Moving upstairs, the Magic Gang were up next. They’re a decent fun band.

I find Spring King a bit hit and miss. They’re never bad. But sometimes I find them a bit bland. Usually it relates to the size of stage. I think it’s because their drummer is the singer. It’s fine in a small location. But in a big location there’s no ‘presence’. Tonight was a better gig. But I wish they had a traditional singer who can hold my attention

Closing the evening were one of my personal favourites, the Wytches. As expected they were on form and the young audience really went for it adding to a great atmosphere. The Wytches new material wasn’t quiet up to the material off their first album, sounding more ‘metal’ than the ‘Nirvana’. But they sound great on a big stage

First up was Black Honey. Odd. As they’re such a good live band, I thought they’d have been the main support for the Wytches. Although there was a reasonable crowd for them, it didn’t reach the critical mass for it to get anyone moshing. Which is a pity, because Black Honey still put in their usual high-energy performances and it’s the first time I’ve seen them play to a relatively flat crowd.

I’d heard good things abut Baby In Vain and what I heard I liked. They’re much heavier than I was expecting. But that’s not a bad thing. I thought they had a Paranoid era-Black Sabbath sound. Unfortunately, my friend wasn’t overly impressed and for some reason the sound at the Horn, was much louder than I can ever remember it being. So we opted out of the performance after a few songs. But I’d like to catch them again.

Closing the evening were my personal favourites, the Wytches. Airing some new songs. The young crowd didn’t seem to mind and were soon moshing away. The new material was more much closer to normal grunge and seemed to be missing their trademark psychobilly influences but they still sounded great. In fact I think it beefed up their set.

Support came from Blonde Bunny and Telegram, bands I’ve seen several times.

Blonde Bunny just don’t work for me. They produce lots of interesting sounds. They’ve got a great drummer who introduces some jazz-like loops. The guitarist manages to eek out interesting sounds and squeals from his guitar. But unfortunately, I have no time for the vocalist. He sings in an unnatural key. At his natural key, he’s got a decent rock/indie voice. But for most songs he sings at his top-end and I find it doesn’t work for me

Next up was Telegram. A band I’ve enjoyed on previous occasions. But tonight, I thought the sound was off with the guitar low in the mix. So I’m afraid didn’t really get into their performance. But to be honest, I’m not sure they did either. They seemed less dynamic than I’ve seen them before – and it’s not the venue, I’ve seen them play Scala before. But they’re a decent band. So I’ll put tonight down to sound.

I think this is the first time I’ve seen the Wytches since their album launch. Since then, they’ve basically toured non stop. With another trip to the US and a small UK tour. Tonight was the last night.

As usual, they sounded good. The audience clearly enjoying their performance with lots of surges. I have to admit, I’m starting to find I don’t enjoy being on the fence and at the brunt of these surges. They’re enjoyable when you’re in the mosh. But not at the brunt of the mosh. I find I lose a little bit from the performance as I’m trying to be aware of where the surges are going. I think it’s often to do with the location. The Wytches set themselves up with the singer on the left. So the surge is a lateral surge as most people who want to mosh go to the centre of the barriers. Once they realise the singer’s on the left, the surge is pushing along the barrier.

Because of this, tonight was the least enjoyable set I’ve seen. Although the seemed to have a little bit less energy than I’ve seen from them, it was significantly less and they played well and had a good mix of songs. I just didn’t feel completely engaged with them tonight (but then I have a cold, maybe it was that?). Don’t get me wrong. This was not a bad set. I enjoyed this more than most gigs I’ve seen this year. It just didn’t connect with me as much as some of their performances earlier in the year did.

Afterwards I headed up to the Shacklewell but didn’t stay long as I felt knackered.

Coming straight off the back of playing festivals all round the country, with little oportunity to rehearse. The lads decided to play an acoustic set in the ‘Old Operating Theatre’ museum in London. This was either going to be an unrehearsed disaster, or a gig to remember.

The gig was actually split into three parts. First the acoustic set. Then an electric set in a nearby community centre and then the lads were heading down to Brighton for a full set to round off the evening.

With their music being so loud and feedback laiden. I wasn’t sure how well the acoustic set would work. I like acoustic sets. They change your pre-conceptions of songs. Stipped off loudness, effects and feedback, the song structure and vocals become the driver. Tonight’s gig was a first class example of how good bands make good music. Even without the reheasals and trying songs acoustically for the very first time. This was a top, top gig.

Back on more solid ground. A short fully electric set at a local community centre

Back on more solid ground. A short fully electric set at a local community centre

The line-up for the evening was pretty good. Ultimate Painting, a band comprising band members from Mazes and Veronica Falls, were first up. I like both bands and enjoyable though their performance was, Ultimate Painting wasn’t a sum of it’s parts lacking the doom gothiness of Veronica Falls and the infectious guitar loops of Mazes.

Ultimate Painting

Next up were the Wytches, one of my favourite bands for the last 12 months. I’ve mentioned the Wytches before. They’re simply one of the best live bands around at the moment.

The Wytches

With a different set of expectations and familiarity of their new materials. Tonight’s gig was a different experience. Parquet Courts were excellent. Their new material sounded fantastic and as previously mentioned, their longer VU-like material sounded brilliant. The only downside for me (and clearly the band) was a group of pissed students (probably underage) decided to have their own party in front of the band calling for songs throughout the songs they weren’t familiar with and showing complete disinterest when the VU-inspired songs by sitting on the stage with their backs to the band. I felt like punching them. So god knows what the band felt like.

Parquet Courts