Oh my Gnod (well it had to be) – after an emotional early evening of footy (yes BM does partake occasionally!) it was up the The Flying Freekick to see Manchester based Kraut/psych rock outfit Gnod (although labels are often not helpful). This lot have been going for a few years (since 2006 apparently), with core members plus “rotating cast” of others. BM has not seen a live show at this venue since dimly remembered days of the early 90s, some Brian Wilson tribute night (well before Brian got back in the sandbox, sorry saddle) in the mid noughties. It is a vegan venue and BM was humiliated when asked to “take her ham sandwich” outside, oops, guilty as charged etc, but on a tight food budget what is a girl to do, Sainsburys sandwich malfunction…
Also who was to know that the actual gig venue is through a badly-signed entrance, BM actually assumed Gnod would be on in the main bar area, but it only made sense when some guy BM had been chatting to earlier said “you know they are on soon, though there!” – ah, ok.
And Gnod meant business – BM had an encounter with one of the guitarists outside during a ore gig “rest break” – he didn’t know the footy result and BM advised best not to mention, likely impossible anyway due to the immense racket that was about to be unleashed…
Tonight BM missed the support act (also some serious catching up to do with known associates) so wasn’t really paying attention until the side-room revelation.
Gnod were playing tonight as a six-piece, singer (with cassettes for intros etc) bass, three guitarists and a drummer, set up well in the alcove at the end of a very small space. It was very loud indeed, cathartic and wonderful.
They played a number of tracks from the March 2017 album ‘Just Say No…’ and others from previous albums including ‘White Hills’…
‘Bodies for Money’ was a massive highlight – so we are talking MBV vs Hillage vs Neu vs some x-factor that they just have – there are few bands at the moment that are just so visceral – BM was also reminded of The Fuck Buttons, shaking some similar chains, albeit with synths…
The attack, the pounding beats, the yelled vocals and overall out-there-ness of the whole thing may have transported some people back to early Pink Floyd but even BM was “busy being born” around then…
Gnod were very good indeed tonight – the audience of maybe 150 getting well down on it…one track segued into another, and there was some serious wigout stuff going on – a really impressive first encounter with this band, and BM feels that we may have an ongoing relationship…
And respect due to The Flying Duck for getting with Gnod in the first place.