THE WILDHOUSE + JULIET KYLO + SHOCK & AWE + PAUL RESEARCH - Balcony Bar, Dundee 18-08-06
Friday night and, after a wonderful spell of weather, the monsoon season arrived. Outside, it was blowing a gale
But inside - there was a hurricane - a musical tornado with no eye! For The Wildhouse were opening up an evening of self-promoted eclecticism with a varied bill worthy of one of mine (just kidding, Mark!!).
In typical Wildhouse fashion, Peter started the proceedings with this squall of a guitar riff that kind of swirled and buzzed like a million angry bees and, as ever, noone really realised the gig had started, until Paul suddenly soared in with the chiming lead guitar and the two began to chart paths that would shortly lead to them going down the same track as the guitar fury increased. About five minutes into this, on sauntered Sheila, who promptly stood at the drums and started the booming rhythmic foundations that seriously got everyone's attention. The Wildhouse juggernaut began to roll and the combination of the drums scything through the airwaves as the guitars drenched the audience with searing fire, was jaw-dropping. Another track saw Paul intone the vocals to the song as the guitars chimed out in upper registers as Sheila's drumming moved from raw power to slower dynamics, crashing the cymbals for extra effect. This was Wildhouse at their most fluid and yet so tight. Further into the set and a longer track saw Sheila playing this militaristic Krautrock drum rhythm that started slow then moved up to the fast pace we've seen and heard before. But as the guitars blazed, something remarkable happened - her drum rhythm accelerated even further - how the hell she could play at that speed, with such deadly accuracy and with such human passion in there, too, I've no idea, but it was unbelievable and just awesome. You could also notice the subtleties too - on one number Paul's hand was running up and down the guitar neck producing a sort of space-rock swooshing effect that only lasted a few seconds but so effective while another passage produced an almost early Pink Floyd Syd Barrett style psychedelic guitar glissando. Meanwhile, Peter was alternately chiming away then absolutely erupting with a wild display of ferocious guitar chords as he scythed and thrashed the guitar, Paul soloing on top. The set lasted about 25 minutes, but when you saw Sheila coming off it absolutely dripping, you realise why the set has to be so short - but that's all part of The Wildhouse enigma - for there is no other band like them on the planet right now. Another amazing set!
Next up were Juliet Kylo. I saw them before at the Westie and thought they'd got something but it wasn't quite gelling. Well, tonight it gelled. Playing a largely instrumental brew of indie guitar rock meets shoegazing style of things, the quartet sounded really together. Playing it pretty well mid-paced and dynamic, occasionally breaking out into storm force then back, theirs was a flowing band performance with all members delivering the goods. The twin guitars generally rang out and chimed, but always with a sense of melody running through its veins as the, sometimes almost reflective, quality of the music, proved utterly captivating. Having just come off reviewing the "BBC Sessions" CD by Mogwai for CDS, I must admit that I thought this was every bit as good as that and, as a frame of reference, it would not be inaccurate to say that Mogwai fans would love this band. There are vocals here and they are part of the songs not just some perfunctory thing to do in between guitar work, but the vocals are still a tad "dry" and you would like to hear a fuller sound - maybe harmonies or treated vocal or something like that. But it's no inhibitor of enjoying the band. The bass work is particularly solid while the rhythm section as a whole kind of drove the band but still acting as a pivotal part of the feel of he band. Very atmospheric but unafraid to blast off for added effect, this is a band on which to concentrate and get lost in their heady creations. Things are improving........
Next up were Edinburgh's Shock & Awe. Electra had mentioned them to me loads of times but I'd never got to see them - this was their first gig in Dundee - and I'm telling you now - it ain't gonna be the last!! Mark sidled by and said "you'll like these - they're like the Ramones". "But they've got a sax player", I thought, and one guy said "is it a jazz band?". One warm-up track later, and all was revealed. This sure as hell ain't no jazz band!! It's no disrepsect to the band and nothing but praise to say that the undoubted first thing you'd compare them to, would be the Ramones. Now you've got to remember that those guys are so legendary, they have an appeal that spans decades - well, this band have those qualties too but highly original too. Playing a smoking brew of hi-octane, blistering punk with two and half minute songs and guitar work that's fast and furious, the band, largely a trio as the sax player only crops up on a few numbers - but soooooo effective when he's there - whip up a storm with a sense of humour that immediately endears them to you, and a set of songs that are pure adrenaline rush and feckin' catchy as heck at the same time. Treated to such classics as "Take Me Back To Iraq", "Everybody Looks Good In The Dark" and "I Saw Your Face on Myspace", this was one shit hot set from a band that cooks, and you simply can't fail to be carried along by them. I was grinning from ear to ear, which probably accounted for the fact that the guitarist, at the end of the final number, came and put the guitar around my shoulders, left it hanging and cannoned this final chord of defiance - superb (even tho I probably looked a complete prat - but so what, if it's fun!!). The Dirty Wee Middens would have LOVED this lot - put these and the Middens on the same bill and punk will never be the same again. But a great band that you really must check out live (and on CD - a review to come on the CD review page shortly).
Finally we had Paul Research from Edinbugh - he played against a filmed backdrop of tons of moving images, called the "Horror Show" (so I guess you could call it the "Edinburgh Rock Horror Show" - groannnnn!!!). What he also did was play guitar and sing - but there was way more to it as the rest of the keyboards, bass, drum programming and whatever else, all played by him in the first place, were all coming out of the speakers while he did his bit above it all - a one man band gone wild. So, how would you describe it? I was afraid you'd ask me that, coz I haven't an earthly clue! With a guitar that was positively revolving between razor wire riffing and biting attack, and a vocal that at times veered between a frazzled UK answer to David Byrne and (I think) the guy out The Fall, this was one seriously strange set. Sometimes he'd be almost intoning the lyrics above a chugging beat that sounded more like an outdated drum machine and a bontempi organ, while at others he'd be almost shrieking the lyrics over a veritable rock rampage. In truth it was bizarre, held you transfixed with interest and, while obviously skillfully done, wasn't something I could get my head round. But it was certainly worth seeing and I imagine there'll be many who love it out there. Whatever your thoughts, in the context of this gig, it all seemed quite natural. A decidedly enjoyable night's entertainment on more musical levels than you can poke a pig with!