[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Gig Review
The Manhattan Love Suicides/ Dirtblonde/ Fnords/ Vanilla Ride London, Gramaphone
Article written by
Ged M - Apr 17, 2009
Fnords
It’s a shame with gigs as good as this that Lost Music are giving up their regular live shows but, even though it’s a Bank Holiday tomorrow, the Gramaphone isn’t as full as the bill warrants. So if you weren’t there, what did you miss? You missed that Norwegian-Japanese-Mancunian power-trio Vanilla Ride, who have learned something about rock’n’roll minimalism from drummer Bret’s other band, The Bridge Gang, with a very fine and melodic Breeders/ Velvets kick. You missed Fnords who aren’t dyslexic Norwegians (it’s an Illuminatus Trilogy reference) but a fantastic Scottish three-piece playing thrash-tastic surf-garage-rock in kitten heels. These were a revelation; frontwoman Sarah is most glamorously dressed but squeezes the dirtiest riffs from her guitar and Fnords would sit nicely alongside the Medway bands but without as much artful pretence. Excellent – would see them again in a heartbeat.
You also missed Dirtblonde, a Liverpool duo with the biggest collection of pedals this side of Denmark Street. Their drone-heavy skuzz-rock is raw punk noise, clearly inspired by Sonic Youth and the JAMC but also imagine the Kills with razorblades for vocal chords. Ivan and Lula (perfect rock’n’roll names!) end the set playing the pedals over dense feedback and rolling on the stage, which just seems to fit their style so well. And you missed an encore by The Manhattan Love Suicides. That's right, an encore! I was so confident that they’d finished their set after six songs (and half the band went to the bar) that I went for a leak, only to zip up dangerously quickly and head back to the stage as I heard the band lurching into ‘Heat and Panic’ (I think). Encores won’t happen again apparently but later Darren said of the moment that “it just felt right” and he was spot on. It was another immense set by the Manhattans, who having just returned from SXSW must be on the brink of something great.
pic courtesy of Trevpop! (link to further photos attached.)