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Friday 6th April 2012
All Day BBQ Festival

Sparrow and the Workshop
6 Day Riot
The Nuns
Singing Adams
Y Niwl
Colours
Dignan Porch
+more tbc

The Windmill
Brixton
Price tbc

On Our iPod

Golden Grrrls - New Pop 7”

Chris Devotion & The Expectations - Amalgamation & Capital (album)

Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester (album)

Throwing Up - Mother Knows Best 7”

Howling Wolf - Complete Chess Masters 1951-60

The Ketamines - A Rotten Bond/1 Yr (from Oddbox Singles Club Pt 2)

Cardinal - Hymns (album)

Proper Ornaments - Taking the Gamble Out of Buying 12”

Darren Hayman - January Songs (album)

Various: Marshall Teller EP 12”

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Gig Review

1-2-3-4 Festival Part 2 - Peter Hook / We Have Band / Wavves / Vivian Girls / Silver Machine / Veronica Falls / Fucked Up
Shoreditch

Article written by Peter W - Aug 26, 2010

1-2-3-4

A large crowd has gathered for Peter Hook and his performance of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures. Three rather fresh-faced musicians arrive and launch into ‘No Love Lost’ (so not a debut-album only recital, then) and the irresistible, rumbling bass makes you momentarily forget that this will surely be nothing short of a public defecation on a seminal band’s history. And then he arrives; but worst of all, he starts to sing.

Hook’s delivery during the practically spoken-word opener is passable, his Curtis aping in ‘Disorder’ painful, but by ‘Day of the Lords’ it’s simply embarrassing; the kindest thing you could say at this point is his yells of “When will it end?” certainly resonate. To be fair, the other band members produce near-flawless renditions of these undeniably brilliant songs – ‘She’s Lost Control’ sounds amazing, as long as you discount the tired pub rocker with the microphone. If it were only his voice being a problem you could forgive him but he demonstrates the sincerity of a debt collector who’s about to confiscate his own mother’s telly. The emotion-stripping reaches its nadir during the set closer ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ which Hook irrationally dedicates to his newly-wedded friends, before churning this doomed-love lament into cheap anthemic cheese with the cry of “Come on Shoreditch!” during the final chorus. If he insists on performing more of these horror shows perhaps it should be renamed “Peter Hook performs Known Unpleasantries”.

After an overpriced but much needed beer, it’s time for We Have Band. They’ve apparently only arrived back in the UK a few hours ago and immediately apologise for looking exhausted (they look anything but). Thankfully there are no signs of jetlag during the set and while their mix of keyboard noodling, shouty vocals and frenetic drumming may get a little predictable, there’s enough indie-dance tuneage here to entertain for half an hour. Fast forward another 20-odd minutes and there’s certainly a determination to entertain on the Main Stage as Wavves fend off the time-conscious organisers to treat the crowd to an extra couple of songs. They may be overstaying their welcome in the Festival’s eyes but the audience love every moment of the scuzzy surf rock emanating from Nathan Williams & co. Their live reputation took a bit of a drug-addled kicking last year but this is easily one of the best performances of the day.

Up next on the RT Stage are Vivian Girls who pick up the fuzzy rock baton from Wavves and treat the crowd to a gloriously riotous set. Cassie Ramone is in particularly fine form and throws in a guitar solo of sorts during a cracking new song; it deviates slightly from their template in terms of tempo and structure (not to mention length – about 5 minutes) but this should be an absolute gem on record. By the end, only the most cold hearted of souls could’ve resisted the ramshackle charm of “I Have No Fun” and the 60s-girl-group-meets-punk delights of “Can’t Get Over You”. Overall an exciting, near-perfect performance from a band that just seems to be getting better and better.

Having earlier witnessed a musician murder songs that were partly his own, this was no time to see Silver Machine (Bobby Gillespie, Glen Matlock, Little Barrie) butcher the works of MC5, Them, and Bo Diddley, to name three of their numerous victims. This was a supergroup best saved for a drunken night in Gillespie’s living room; for all the influence these songs / artists may have had on Messrs Matlock & P Scream, it’s difficult to appreciate the magic of the originals when the delivery is so flaccid. Still, it’s apparently just a one-off show and to Gillespie and co’s credit, their affection for the tunes did at least come across as genuine and not at all Hook-like. Seeking shelter in the Artrocker tent for Veronica Falls isn’t too successful. The sound problem bug has now entered this tiny space too, so while there are still a few joyous indie-pop moments, the band is never really allowed to build proper momentum.

Headliner time….and Fucked Up’s attempt to make an immediate impact is almost literal when their monstrous frontman Damian Abraham leaps into the crowd during the first five minutes. He’s quickly stripped down to his boxers and puffing like a giant, evil baby (ignoring the beard for a moment); when he’s not wiping his sweat on an appreciative fan he’s busy barking out unintelligible anger over his bandmates’ hardcore yet strangely catchy punk. The Toronto sextet has a reputation for fierce live shows and they don’t disappoint. A wonderfully insane and enthralling end to the festival.

Sound issues and beer prices aside, you couldn’t ask much more of a one-day festival; hopefully the former will be sorted out next year (I’ve no hope for a cheap bar but maybe an ale??), but on the whole ‘tis been a fine day.

Links:
http://www.the1234shoreditch.com/