The Bierkeller is a cavernous, rambling venue, full of shady corners and boasting a creaking, low ceiling. Tonight’s line up threatens to bring the whole lot crashing down around our ears, as not one, but three fine bands hit top note in support of the headline act, who themselves proved more than able to move a crowd hypnotically towards their sonic trickery.
NEW WORLD RECORD came first. Blessed with an excellent drummer, the four-piece outfit breezed through their indie-rock stage show thanks to their big hitting rhythm section. Songs like ‘Walk Round’ echoed off the walls and dripped with energy, and their music hit on a groove that flirted with mainstream rock in the most incandescent way imaginable. Catch them soon before they become pop stars!
PIERRE HALL & THE LEAD BALLOONS followed this up with a show-stealing display of classic pop. Pierre came of age quite literally - 21 on the evening, this four-stone dread cajoled his raggle-taggle band of lost souls through a splendid reworking of the early 90’s indie phenomenon. A heavy sprinkling of delightful acoustic rhythms put the whole thing out on a limb, where tales unfold, the stuff of broken hearts and battered spirits. One track ‘What You’ve Been Through’ nearly had the roof off the place, and for many, they were the act of the night. Such four chord loveliness and sucker harmonies were so hard to follow, but STICKBOY held firm to the task, albeit after a shaky ol’start.
Class lyrics soon prevailed over their kicking rhythms. In no time we saw the stage fright disappearing fast as the band hit a fully flowing anti-groove, bringing shouts of support from the ever-growing cluster at the front. This was a treat for all fans of indie-pop, and the three outlined above set us all up well and truly for the sonic craziness of VIVA VOCE.
They do not fuck around.
Showcasing new record ‘Get Yr Blood Sucked Out’ Anita’s sonic tapestries turned our heads inside out from the word ‘go’, aided by the subliminal jangle of her rickenbacker and locked down by the pounding rhythms of husband Kevin’s drums. Kevin stepped out from behind the kit from time to time to wield an acoustic along with the distorted, messy but effective style of Anita’s playing, and soon we were all well and truly tuned in.
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‘We Do Not Fuck Around’ sounds epic down here, but in calmer moments, we find the chaos similarly entrancing. ‘Drown Them Out’ is a winner, that deep and downbeat chillout is all about the gentle percussion. Though the bierkeller is far from full, the winners this evening are those who turned out to see this accidental line up hit top form.
'Alive With Pleasure’ is another eerie slow builder – it slows and dissolves to leave just a lullaby vocal and the beat. The music that Viva Voce create has many points of reference, but retains its freshness and stays vital, all the more so in terms of live performance. I rub my bleary eyes and reckon to myself that it’s been one hell of a night.
Outside, it’s approaching 1.30am, and the summer humidity is blending with Friday night/Saturday morning insanity, drunken stragglers and those on a mission flying their different ways as the night buses begin to ferry home the early birds. It’s been a cracking night, and my deep thanks here go out to all four acts, not least those in solid (sonic?) support of our American chums.
http://www.vivavoce.com/
http://www.myspace.com/stickboyuk
http://www.myspace.com/newworldrecorduk
http://www.myspace.com/leadballoons
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