It’s time for another day out enjoying live music in the wonderful city of Manchester. Todays hosts are the lovely Fair Play Festival who’ve curated an eclectic mix of musical wonder in the city’s Northern Quarter. Now I’ve got to confess I’m juggling a lot today, so this really isn’t to be taken as a full review of the day. I start late and only catch the tail end of Spielmann in The Castle and truth be told I can’t tell you too much other than they sound loud and fast and the room is packed. All very good signs. I just wish I’d got here a bit earlier.
Next up we’re off to Night & Day for the brilliantly named Carmel Smickersgill. Who armed with a keyboard, laptop and fantastic suit, stops the room chattering with set of haunting avant garde introspection. It’s brave and fairly challenging stuff, messing with modulation, reverb packed vocals and a tiny flute, but there’s also brightly breezy stuff that gets folks dancing. She’s doing a lot of work up there, layering up a twisty collage with some gorgeous soaring vocals. One lad gets a bit too enthusiastic, but hey it’s a sound that really draws you in. “These next two tracks feature a lot of euphonium, so any badass euphonium fans this is for you”, I didn’t know I was into euphoniums but it turns I’m onboard with girl next to me who shouts “Woo EUPHONIUM!’
Back in The Castle, for the also wonderfully named Attention Le Tapis Prend Feu, which Google tells me translates as ‘Be careful the carpet’s on fire’. I get down the front before the room fills and fill it does. They’ve got a lot of kit, cables and sadly issues with distortion as the start aborts slightly. They do get going though, delivering some really cool (hey they’re French) electro pop. Full of bouncy beats and glorious glitches. A can is opened during one bass rumbling breakdown and is caught by the echo delayed mic. Its timing is perfect and although this sometimes looks chaotic, it’s amazingly controlled. I’ve no idea what they’re singing about, but it all sounds lovely.
Things get a touch darker with Tlya X An in Soup. This venue has really come on over the last few years, it used to feel really small and pretty dingy, but it’s been rejigged and is now a much nicer space to be in. I’ll confess I’m a bit outside my comfort zone with Tlya X An, the beats are heavy and she performs well dressed all in white, counter to the woman with the decks in all black, but this isn’t my thing. I’m one slightly negative voice in a largely positive room though, so don’t let me dissuade you. There are moments where I’m swept up as the BPM rises, this is more my territory. Hit me with a ton of rapid breakbeats and solid slabs of bass and I’m all in. I’m not totally convinced by the end, but I’m glad I made the choice to come. This is the thing with festivals, you’ve got to make a call about who you’re going to see and who’ll you’ll forsake. More on this later.
Moreish Idols in The Peer Hat turn up with the first guitars I see and hear properly for the day. Along with some saxophone, flute and piano. Mostly this is guitars though, riding a groove. Amusingly two photographers in front of me get into a spat. To be fair though one has an SLR and is trying to work the stage front getting different angles and the other is trying to stop him, stood in the same position filming with a phone, in portrait. I know which side I come down on. Anyway the band aren’t phased. There’s some really nice stuff and when they get into full flow it’s pretty brilliant. ‘Hanger’ stands out a bit, it’s a cracker. They do have some tech issues, which is starting to feel like a common problem across the day, but again they keep things going, that sax isn’t just for show, sure the guitars are keeping the amps busy but the sax cuts through beautifully. I mean it’s no euphonium, but it’s pretty cool.
I’d forgotten how loud they like things in The Peer Hat though, so I’m thankful to give my ears a brief break and grab some food, before returning for Bas Jan. There’s a woman on stage with a sparkly violin, I have to say I’m loving the varied nature of this festival. Bas Jan are fun, with songs about lost friends, possibly a cat, I’m not sure. New one ‘Credit Card’ covers the perils of personal finance. ‘At The Counter’ is a catchy bugger and from what I can gather, it’s the newer stuff that I like more, but it’s all good.
I’m a bit loathed to skip the last bit of their set, but I need to get to Gullivers to watch Thank. They really are the reason I’m here. As far as I can tell they are the most brutal band on the bill. Sorry Scalping. They’re brilliant on record, but fuck me they are intense live! Much of this could be put down to the monster on drums, but the whole sound is an assault of electronics, guitars and cutting lyrics that balance brilliant and hysterical. Last time I saw them they blew me away, but I think they’re even better, tighter, more powerful now, just phenomenal. To be honest I’d have paid the ticket fee just to hear ‘Dread’, what a tune! They are clearly my band of the day and I’m already looking forward to seeing them again supporting Yard Act later this month.
So I mentioned juggling festival line ups. I’ve complicated things further today, by shoehorning another gig in. So sadly I have to pass up on Scalping who I’ve seen fairly recently and know will be great, to bike it across town to watch Déjà Vega at Gorillla. Look for that review on the site after this one.
As if by magic though, I’m soon back in Gullivers to see Shovel Dance Collective. It’s a weird transition after Thank and Déjà Vega. There’s a harp on stage and some very folky solo vocals singing about bonny boys, silk and greenery. His voice is beautiful though and it’s wonderfully cinematic as an organ joins in. The power dials up as the harp is poised and someone takes a bow to a banjo. I knew sod all when I walked in and wasn’t sure as they started. Rarely am I completely sold by the end of one song, but I am. I’m not sure I’d get on with it in the car or whilst making a brew, but live they’re bloody brilliant.
I will have to admit that the day is catching up with me as I finish up in The Peer Hat with Yossari Baby. It’d be easy to focus on how they look, but let’s just say they look incredibly fabulous. For stage presence they’ve aced it, the sound though is just as good. Slick electro art rock. Fun. Vital. Dangerous. They turn The Peer Hat into an apocalyptic disco. I declared earlier my band of the day being Thank and I’ll stand by that, but Yossari Baby are a close second and definitely find of the day. There’s an album just released and I plan to spend tomorrow listening on repeat. I suspect you need to see them live though, so please do that as soon as you can.
That’s it though, I’m toast. 9 bands (10 inc. the detour) is enough. What a day. What a festival. What a city. My eyes are closing, but my heart is open. Euphonium!!
Thank
Yossari Baby
Shovel Dance Collective
Bas Jan
Attention Le Tapis Prend Feu
Carmel Smickersgill
Moreish Idols
Tlya X An