Working Mens Club, Yes Basement. 19th September 2019

Tonight’s gig was very different from last nights. Yes’ dark basement is a far cry from the Apollo and ten tons better. God I love small venues! Kicking off were The Want, a three piece with post punk angles as sharp as Gang of Four, all meaty bass lines and scratchy guitars. We’re here to see Working Men’s Club though and the headliners (if you can headline a basement) didn’t disappoint. They’re markedly altered from last time I saw them, with a fluid line up that drift on and off stage, with pretty much just the striped to the waist singer, bassist and redneck looking knob twidder being ever present. That knob twiddling is the difference, there’s a lot more electro in the mix, it’s kept at bay but it’s there. The sound of The Fall melting together with LCD Soundsystem, some Campag Velocet and even a bit of Brian Jonestown Massacre in the wigouts, albeit with that rouge motorik synth. It feels dangerous, it feels exciting, it feels relevant, but with a snarl of utter abandonment. In short it sounds fucking cool. Can’t wait to see them again next month!