It’s been a few months since I was in N&D, but it’s like a warm hug from an old friend walking back in, especially on a cold night. It’s already busy for the support from Alien Chicks, who are neither from another planet or poultry, but they are fun, belting out schizophrenic monsters like ‘Cowboy’, the only one I can name. I’ve had a listen before coming out tonight and wasn’t sure they were for me. Seeing them live though, my mind is changed. There’s only three of them but they’re all over the stage and visually gripping. They’re not tame on the ears either, with a sound that’s heavy but with the scratchy guitars doesn’t feel sludgy. I need to see them again, but they’ve definitely caught my attention.
So to English Teacher, who although still to release an album, feel like they’ve been around a while. This is my first time in the room with them though and my expectations are unreasonably high. It’s sold out and the room is packed, but I’m not really up for being touched up tonight, so I’m tucked safely at the back. This isn’t my usual vantage point and it feels quite odd, but in a nice way. They start with ‘The Worlds Biggest Paving Slab’ which is a spikey tune that gives way to a blissed out shoegaze chorus with a lyrical sting. They’re a bit more raw as you’d expect from the studio, but they feel tight in all the right places. Granted, aside singer Lily they’ve not much presence. The rest of the band look like they could be English Teachers, this goes for most bands like this though and it doesn’t really matter when you sound this good. They’re not exactly a party band though, the crowd don’t go mental. It’s more of an appreciative collective bob and sway that emanates around the room as they ease through the set. Particularly for ‘A55’ with its gently building lilt, that teases a GY!BE-esque crescendo over and over, before finally hitting the gas. There’s quite a few I don’t know, that point towards a debut album that will be as delicate as it is punchy. These softer moments are beautiful, you can’t hear anyone at all, even at the back where there’s usually some chatter, I’m not sure anyone’s even breathing. ‘You Blister My Pain’ comes with an introduction of its A Clockwork Orange inspiration. A soulful lament, with a piano underscore, it sees Lily unleash her voice revealing a power that I’m not sure we really hear elsewhere. They’re a much more developed band than I expected and as the set deepens they floor me over and over, to the point that I’m not sure I stand by some of the earlier comments about bands like this and them looking like faculty members. After needlessly apologising for playing lots of new songs like the excellent ‘Broken Biscuits’ that sounds like Dry Cleaning on a night out. We then get a flurry of more familiar songs. ‘Song About Love’, ‘Nearly Daffodils’, ‘R&B’ it’s quite a flex, showing an impressive range. “Are we having fun?” we’re asked, too bloody right we are! ‘Good Grief’ keeps the pace up with its shouty indie disco refrain. Before they close with another new one. I can’t tell you its name, but I can tell you it summarises the set brilliantly building until it soars confidently. They easily exceed my expectations. I’m not often surprised, but tonight I’m stunned. Just wonderful. Roll on next year, I can’t wait for the album.
