She Drew The Gun / Paige Kennedy / Motopia

Things got off to an early start at Room 2 with Glasgow-based Motopia, playing a shortish set which included recent single ‘Don’t Look Away’.

There was a fair bit of dancing/moshing and some squawling Zepplinesque guitar solos, so business as usual – Mairead Feighan was clearly well chuffed to be supporting She Drew The Gun, having previously had frontwoman Louisa Roach onstage to do a guest spot on at least one occasion.

English-based Paige Kennedy was the touring support for SDTG on this jaunt. Playing guitar and using electronic percussion/effects to generate backing tracks, she gave us some highly eccentric tunes which put BM in mind of St Vincent (especially the funky guitar), Prince and possibly Ladytron. Standout track was probably ‘What Does Your Girlfriend Think?’ (infectiously hilarious in a Scissor Sisters stylee) which really got the crowd going but the whole set was entertaining – definitely one to watch, with great charisma and talent.

It has been a few years since BM saw the full-band version of the Wirral’s SDTG and this was a longer, more varied and sophisticated set than on previous occasions, interspersed with several spoken word numbers from Louisa. Playing as a five piece to a now very crowded Room 2, they ran through tunes from most recent album ‘Howl’ and a selection of earlier tracks. The ‘Howl’ material in particular sounded to these ears a bit more soulful than previous albums, not necessarily less angry but just more chilled…

There was plenty of anger at other times however, as Louisa goaded the audience into chanting along to ‘Class War’ (“how much did you get paid for that?”)… Highlight was probably a furious version of “Something for the Pain” and the triple encore of ‘Poem’, ‘Out’ and ‘Panopticon’. This was an impressive showing by a singular artist and band who have a close connection with their audience – more please!

Photos by Dale Harvey