Wych Elm / The Accident Group, Gullivers. 15th November 2023

After an exciting support slot for Document in Night & Day over two years ago and last years tour being scrapped, I’ve been itching to see Wych Elm again for a while. They’ve three EPs under their belt now and perfectly poised to rattle Gullivers walls with their arsenal of short sharp grunge grenades, but I’ll have to wait just a short while longer…

I miss the first support, but I’m in for The Accident Group. Do I know that name? It sounds familiar. They’re local and appear to have supported a fair few bands I’ve seen this year, so it’s not a stretch. Despite the civil time of 9pm that they’re on, there’s not nearly enough people in room. I’m starting to wonder if buying a gig ticket should make it mandatory that you’re in to support the support. Fair enough it’s not always possible, but at this time where the hell is everyone? They miss a lovely set of jaunty indie pop, with a distinctly northern spring in its step. There’s definitely a spot of The Libertines in there, but they get much more angular in places too. I’ve no idea what the songs are called, but the third one’s a corker. They do help out a little introducing ‘Oh Dear’ as the one they’ll play on the Pyramid Stage and I tell you it’d work! Next is ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’ the only one you’ll find online. I don’t know what it sounds like on Spotify, but live it’s fabulous. They’re a delight to watch, especially the drummer who plays with real emotion. Granted it’s maybe not what you’d think for a band supporting a band like Wych Elm, but you know what they say about variety. The woman in the middle of the room covered in dripping eyeliner seems to love it and I do too. The singer looks like one of The Cribs in knitwear and if that’s not the perfect metaphor for them, well I give up.

There’s more bodies in for Wych Elm. The line up has changed since last time out, but the sound hasn’t. It’s immediate, visceral, ‘Monkey Jaw’ instantly going for the slacker jugular. Immy hitting the cymbals so hard, half the kit hits the deck and needs putting back together for ‘1983’ with its quiet loud Pixies dynamic. Caitlin’s bass has a beautiful low rumble as she sings the Nirvana indebted ‘Woman’. She jokes that the hits are coming later in the set, but this is an absolute monster. Her voice will tear through your eardrums and you’ll thank her for it. Most of the songs are short, ‘Executioner’, ‘Wench’, ‘Plague’ fly by, the later though perhaps being the stand out. I’m not going to try pick favourites here though. I defy you to stand still, even with the slacker vibes. No one is that I can see. Immy plays like the drums have done her wrong, Jack drags sharp toned menace from his matt black guitar as Caitlin holds court. I’ve not heard anyone play like this in decades (a bit concerning) and it’s bloody amazing. Tongue in cheek we’re “On to the hits”. ‘Virgin Mary’ is the slower tempo respite. Before the goths down the front go nuts for ‘Burnt at the Stake’. The pace is pretty face melting. I’m right at the front and I can only assume behind me is puddle of human joy. ‘Field Crow’ is a fury of feedback, before they unleash ‘Bag of Worms’ to close. It rolls into something I don’t recognise (Calling Your Bluff?) with Immy joining Caitlin on the mic, but it’s all over too soon. Leaving us all wanting more. Barely over 30 minutes and done, but what a 30 minutes. This sound is in my blood and tonight Wych Elm carved themselves in my heart. Please come back soon.