Young musicians who performed at Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds receive high praise from reviewer
Another storming Saturday night at the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds, as three talented young bands surprised the smaller second venue.
First act The Moochers had the ageless indie rock vibes of the Arctic Monkeys coupled with the bleak urgency of early Joy Division, although perhaps it was the bass player’s Rickenbacker instrument gave me the idea.
On the other hand, the Doomsday-based lyrics of Father Figure, with its breaking-news – report style rant towards the end might not have been past the late Ian Curtis in the present climate.
Skies weren’t all grey though, as they went on to close their set – which I’m ashamed to say I think I came in late for – with the most outrageously fun version of Love Shack, which I have to say equalled Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider of the B52s’ original!
Substation, featuring my old college mucker Harry Hammond on bass, never failed to blow me away and surprise me with their mix of genuine musical talent and on-stage looning, such as otherwise lost-in-the-groove guitarist Jack Stanton doing Steve Vai-style acrobatics over the chorus of regular cover 500 Miles and at least two of the band (Hammond included) wearing full swimming costumes on-stage.
Their lyrics were occasionally brilliantly left-field too, with the track Tagliatelle rhyming the popular pasta with “watching the telly”.
Lead singer Indigo Spooner’s edgy image reminded me on this occasion of Alice Cooper circa Love It To Death. It’s a great shame they’re splitting after a last gig in October with Bag Of Cans and Gabby Rivers.
Despite missing Sleemo’s set due to a long car journey the following morning, I certainly heard them, but in spite or perhaps because of their reputation for being very loud indeed, I did notice their knack for prog-metal melodies. On the whole, you won’t hear me complaining, though – guess who got his first rum ‘n’ coke out of it? Cheers Harry and see you at the next one!
Review by Dylan Barton
