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The Lodger / The Argonauts / The Nightjars
London, Gramaphone
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Article
written by Ged M
Apr 2, 2008.
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They talk a lot about The Lodger being devised in Ben Siddall’s bedsit in Leeds, as if it’s your typical angsty indie music, but it’s a bit more resilient that that. Songs from forthcoming new album Life Is Sweet, which tonight’s gig showcases, suggest that the songs temper their melancholic tones with some shit-hot dance moves. I liked the debut record Grown Ups a lot but I don’t miss those songs tonight, not even the masterful ‘Let Her Go’; the new material is instantly, insistently listenable and brand new single ‘The Good Old Days’ stands out: melodic Northern pop with a sniff of melancholy and a twist of 80s disco in the mix. There isn’t a duff moment in the set; it’s modestly understated perfect pop. Maybe there aren’t many people tonight but they get more than their money’s worth tonight. After all, Jesus only drew a crowd of 12 when he was around but look where he is today.
The Argonauts don’t give you any hints; taking the stage they’re dressed so differently they could be scallies (bassist Daniel), smart indiepop kids (drummer Terry) or swamp rockers (guitarist James). But the sound they make is pure Supergrass-style melodic indie-rock, drawing on the Who, Creedence and maybe the Coral (the latter more for the way they re-present classic influences in catchy new ways). They go from indie to Americana and back, taking in a little bit of soul, in ways that are never less than entertaining, especially on the pure pop sugar rush of ‘Say Something’. They’re from Hoddesdon, Herts: it’s worth listening to the sound of the suburbs.
Manchester’s The Nightjars clearly sound as if they have cool art-rock record collections in which Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo figure prominently. They occasionally detonate the angular rhythms of post-rock before heading back towards indie-rock, finding melody amid the noise. Frontman Ollie seems a sound bloke but your eyes are drawn to the unstoppable drummer Seamus, who batters seven shades out of his kit and sets the pace for his bandmates. A true star!
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