Working Mens Club, Yes Pink Room. 26th October 2019

A few weeks on from seeing Working Mens Club in Yes’ Basement, tonight we climb a few stairs to The Pink Room. It’s larger, but just as packed and very Pink! I don’t really like this room much, so was wondering how this would go. This band seem to be evolving rapidly and sound decidedly different from my first encounter a year ago. A lot more bite, more aggression, urgency, especially from singer Sydney Minsky-Sargeant, who may sound posh, but certainly gives off all the snarl of a punk veteran at only 18. After the last show, at which I think I was the average age, the band tweeted/demanded more kids in the crowd and so made tonight a 14+ show... but more of that later... Support came from PVA, who I’m not sure who to compare to. Shouty monotone vocals, layers of synths and effected electronics, crashing with guitars feeding back and live drums. Now that sounds quite good to me written down, but it was a bit of a drag live. Some bits sounded good, but I don’t think I’d rush out to see them again. Part of what spoilt PVA was the awful sound mix. Thankfully that’s remedied for Working Mens Club who come on to find a packed room, with some occupants that are definitely younger. However I still think I’m hitting that average age and Sydney seems annoyed about the lack of movement. There’s lots of nodding, bouncing etc. but he wants us off our spots. In my experience though, at gigs like this, that doesn’t happen and I’m right, as good as the music is, the performance is, I get the feeling Syd ain’t happy with us. Full on banger ‘Teeth’ litterally comes out threatening to draw blood, with Syd jumping off stage, seemingly looking to square up for a fight. He doesn’t of course, it’s just energy being burnt off, but it burns off quickly, he’s back on stage and gone. 30 minutes, wham bam done. This band are fantastic, but it remains to be seen just where there going.