I’ve just had my faith in unknown bands reaffirmed
Posted: November 27th, 2002, by Chris HThat’s better than what happens most Tuesdays….
I saw, for £3 at West 13th, Scatter a glasgow band who act like a collective and have a toy trumpet, double bass and electric mandolin. They sound like early Velvet Underground in a free jazz mood but not so free and hostile as to be molesting your ears. Atmospheric, moody and not like anything I’ve heard for a while. I’ll be hunting out their next gig and there aren’t many Glasgow bands I’d say that about.
I also saw Vialka (I think it’d be fair to call them Slovenia’s Finest) who I was even more impressed with. Having gone along purely on the basis that if someone’s come from the other side of Europe to play, it’d be rude for me to not wander down the hill to see them, I was pleased to find that they are Very Good Indeed. They look like The White Stripes, one bass one drumkit two uniforms, but they sound a bit like God Is My Co-Pilot, Kenny Process Team, Fighting Red Adair and a (tiny bit like a) minimalist Melt-Banana, i.e. spiky off-kilter indie punk or whatever it’d be called, fast and tight with added showmanship. They present the ‘Tonight We Show You Fuck’ Show with a lounge-y opening tape, amusing banter and a football rattle to help you know when to applaud (this wasn’t necessary as they went down a squall – good crowd tonight too).
They are playing Newcastle (Head of Steam), Leeds and London before going home. You Really Should See Them. [Even if the music wasn’t reason enough (it is), they finish the set in their underwear.]
Chris H
Chris was hit by a brick as a child and lost the popular culture part of his brain. This affliction means he is only able to listen to obscure japanese noise bands and watch films with overtly complex storylines. His other interests include skulking, editing documents, taunting policemen and entering undecipherable handwriting contests. He lives in an enormous underground laboratory where he spends many hours trying to un-invent television.