The Moonlandingz
– GORILLA, MANCHESTER –
It seems no coincidence that on one of the hottest days of the year to date, one of the hottest bands currently around hit Manchester. The Moonlandingz, a super band featuring members of Fat White Family, Slow Club and Eccentronic Research Council, have arrived fresh from the recent release of their debut album, Interplanetary Class Classics.
Prior to The Moonlandingz, widely tipped as ‘ones to watch’, London four-piece Goat Girl take to the stage and impress with their lo-fi slacker sounds reminiscent in parts of early Pavement crossed with post-grunge. There is something of a Courtney Love feel to singer Lottie’s vocals and highlights include recent single ‘Scum’ and the rather splendid ‘Country Sleaze’, where Lottie spits out the intriguing line, “Touch my body, touch my soul/Touch that deep and disused hole”.
There then follows surprise guest the Soul Goblin, introduced by Maxine Peake, who herself is a sometime member of the Eccentronic Research Council. He comes on stage, head wrapped in shrink wrap, naked of torso, and treats the audience to a bizarre rendition of ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’ whilst good naturedly being heckled by the audience members at the front.
The Moonlandingz arrive to rapturous applause and Johnny Rocket – aka Fat White Family’s Lias Saoud – swaggers on stage half-naked, face smeared in coal-like make-up, the dishevelled bastard child of Iggy, Sid and Fagin, accompanied by fellow band members including vocalist Rebecca Taylor (moonlighting from her other band Slow Club). They waste no time in launching into album opener ‘Vessels’, with its heavy glam rock-esque rhythms and crunching drum back beat.
To say the band hit their stride immediately is an understatement and they swiftly launch into recent single ‘Black Hanz’, with Lias and Rebecca bumping and grinding off each other, which all adds to the chaotic glory of their sound. ‘Sweet Saturn Mine’ sends the packed crowed at the front into overdrive, which Lias himself soon joins, throwing himself into the sea of arms, legs in the air. ‘IDS’ continues the frenzied opening with the chorus, “40,000 years of Job Club” – the song is about the debilitating effects of Tory policies and is an ode to Iain Duncan Smith.
The ballad ‘The Strangle of Anna’ slows the night down but this is no traditional ballad, instead focusing on the viewpoint of the girlfriend of a clichéd, self-absorbed, pound-shop indie wannabe, and highlights Rebecca’s fine vocals over warm, scuzzy, Velvets style backing.
The Moonlandingz end the evening with ‘Lay Your Head Down On The Road’ and ‘Man In Me Lyfe’. The former is a country-style boozy ballad backed with the woozy keys of Eccentronic Research Council’s Adrian and Dean; the latter contains scattergun lyrics delivered in Lias’s inimitable style and brings the evening to a satisfying close. There is no encore but I suspect this is because The Moolandingz have no energy left – a spent force after a glorious set. They deliver big time and are a band who are unique in look, style and vision. A definite contender for gig of the year for me already and a band who are a ‘must watch’ recommendation for those lucky enough to have Glastonbury tickets in the summer.
The Moonlandingz: Facebook | Twitter
Overgrown indie kid with a penchant for americana, psych and weird folk.
