Remember the Cramps? Well if you don’t this was the perfect reminder. Looming in the background of all the bands was their jangly, rattling guitar sound, a combination of Johnny Kidd, Link Wray and Cramps’ own Poison Ivy.
Only opening act SHe’S HiT pay any proper tribute to the band, with a cover of ‘I Was A Teenage Werewolf’ but that comes as no surprise after listening to their sound: grinding, pounding garage rock with an affected Stooges-like nihilism. Even if they really do care on the inside, it’s a convincing act.
Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lock Pickers sound like a function band from hell, though that’s probably how they intended it. Yates is an eccentric and watchable frontman and they put together a solid performance.
Paper Planes have been hotly tipped for over a year now and their previous single, Doris Day, grabbed the attention of music fans and critics alike. This time around the surf, post punk quartet are back to launch their new single The Sway.
The band’s image is that brand of “look how alternative-cool I am – and no I’m not going to smile. Watch me play and not care”. It was a no frills set but then again it never needed to be, as they are a cut above the rest of the majority of bands Glasgow produce – so menial chat and crowd interaction were never going to be on the agenda.
American front woman, Jennifer Paley’s stage antics are reminiscent of the punchy attitude of Blondie paired with the alt. coolness of Karen-O; while the rest of the band seem like they just happened to be kicking about and strapped up with instruments, ready to rock– just in case.
This band should not work; they cover old sounds and are producing nothing we have not already heard – and yet, it does work – it works really well. They out -performed the size of the venue and this year we should hopefully see the band progress onto bigger and better things.
Review by Euan Wallace and Hollie Smith