Miss The Occupier always seem to be opening when I see them. And tonight, they’re taking the stage so early that even the obligatory bunch of mates haven’t had the chance to turn up yet. Never daunted by such trivialities, they always give good gig. There’s something infectious about a band that not only believe in what they are doing but enjoy it as well. And, Miss the Occupier have every right be so assured. Their songs mix all that’s great in some very patchy rock bands (Sonic Youth, Huggy Bear…) and ratchets it up with a solid pop nous most other bands would be too timid to flaunt.
There are some inexplicably jarring or unnecessarily jaggy guitar parts peppered through the set. But, MtO (as no-one should ever refer to them) exude enough cool, poise and rocking tunes for you to let it pass. Prepare to move up the billing.
Belfast’s Come In Tokyo (not to be confused with Pete Wylie’s little bro’s band of the same name) are destined to be likened to the White Stripes, if only for having the same bloke/girl guitar/drums arrangement. And, no matter what you think of them, we should all be thankful to Jack & Meg for bringing this kind of minimal line-up from the darkest corners of the garage-punk scene and made it far more accepted. Which is great as it’s meant kids across the world have stopped skulking about thinking to themselves “if only we knew someone that played the bass/guitar/whatever” and they’re getting all that raw energy out there and just doing it. This has thrown up some really rocking bands. And on the good-time stompalongs, like current single I Won’t Want You (split with Gummi Bako on Nekkid Rekkids), they can hold their own alongside anyone pumping this kinda thing out. It’s when they introduce more subtlety of structure that the limitations of the two piece begin to show. You find yourself waiting for the hammond organ on one track, the brass on another. Flourishes and touches to draw out the melodies. Because, they’re certainly in there. One thing this lot can do is pen a tune. They should just do them a bit more justice.
So, straining to break out from their (admittedly self set) constraints? A good thing, I think.
//Tony Kiernan