Three local bands with a hot buzz, under the same roof, for a fiver? Could well have been an uneventful Wednesday eve indeed but twas saved, firstly by none other than Jesus. Well, Jesus H. Foxx. The opening verse of impressive a capella eventually explodes into a tasty show of Pavement meeting Talking Heads at a party for The Strokes. Their ‘thing’ would be the fact that they have two drummers, and though the songs they’re serving up are good, all good things must end, but less abruptly thanks. A better defined finish here and there seems like a simple enough kink though and a promising sound such as this will surely round itself out.
Speaking of novelty drumming, enter Come On Gang!. It’s a damn delightful boy-girl-boy trio who deliver playground punk and an altogether different and diggable sound than anything around, and not just because the singer is also the drummer, who also happens to be the one wearing the lipstick. Her (of course it’s a her, people) canorous voice shines sunnily through well-crafted guitar riffs and her own percussion in a set to regale the crowd. Hipsters beware, these ebullient efforts won’t allow you to stand still.
Chutes finish the gig in polished sub-stadium style, the pacing stageman clinging to himself through enveloping songs of woeful pleading. Though there are some engrossing, good tunes, it’s almost too reminiscent of bands that have been there before (think Joy Division, Elbow et al). Their sound is big though and that’s why they’re headlining, but maybe a twist on what’s familiar will make Chutes their most powerful.