This was a nicely balanced triple bill promoted by Pop Mutations Glasgow, something for everyone really, on a gloomy Good Friday…
Cr@m are a mainly Glasgow-based five-piece who take some influences from anarcho-punk with a strong pro-Green tinge to their lyrical subject matter. With a tight rhythmically rocking drum and bass backline, and guitar riffage channelling Killing Joke, they pounded out riffs while the vocalists yelled out the lines – very effective and enjoyable of its kind…
Even more local were next up Dragged Up, a five-piece combo which has emerged out of several other previous (and current) bands. On the verge of releasing their first album proper (‘High On Ripple’), they tore through mainly tracks from this one, including recent single “Missing Person”.
BM has previously likened them on record to The Velvet Underground (think it is the interplay between Simon and Eva’s guitars maybe, plus some of Simon’s riffs…) and stands by that on the basis of this live performance, albeit there’s a lot else in there as well… There’s a definite post-punk Delta 5 vs The Slits thing going on with the vocals (Lisa and guitarist Eva trade vocals at times), some real Nuggets-esque playing and some occasional flashes of post hardcore (BM thinks this may be bass player Chas and drummer Stephen!).
With mainly vocals from Lisa, the tracks have a healthy disregard of any particular genre with wildly eccentric subject matter abounding – ‘Bible Study’ could be a country number until it gets buried under a pile of feedback and Riot-Grrl shouting, while ‘Die Tryin’ includes a spoken word narrative which wouldn’t be out of place on a Belle and Sebastian record. Further wigouts ensue, including the extraordinary “Third Level” – there is something distinctly odd about this combo, and BM likes it!
It would be fair to say that the headliners tonight, Leeds-based trio Objections, are veterans, having been in other bands for decades (Bilge Pump, Nape Neck etc) but this newish combination is a killer. Combining Neil’s lithe drumming, Claire’s bass/vocal thrust and Joe’s plangent guitar riffs and thrashing, there is a stripped down muscularity and aggression but also wit and satire in the words and delivery.
Fast, tight and to-the-point, these are honed down to the essentials, maybe recalling Gang of Four mixed with bits of ’90s shoegaze. Among others, they played ‘BSA Day’ and ‘Better Luck Next Time’ and other tracks from a forthcoming album – they pretty much filled the Glad and Neil confirmed to BM afterwards how much he loves playing here, so hopefully they will be back.
Fair play as usual to Jer on sound, it was loud but perfectly balanced to these ears! Also to the promoters, Kim and the bar staff…cheers!