– KRAAK GALLERY, MANCHESTER –“Welcome To Pork City” written on a newspaper stand ahead of the dark back alley where Kraak Gallery is situated is about as ambiguous a notice as the band’s online surfacing, which carried with it a similar secretive obscurity. Signing to Caledonian records, the same label as upcoming Blaenovon, the band first posted songs on their Soundcloud with no description apart from the words ‘Yacht Rock’ and a picture of a scantily-clad animated pig spread-eagled across a living room rug.
With three members of the band being formerly of Wu Lyf, some of the band are no strangers to this secretive approach, as the only approved image of Wu Lyf for a seemingly long-time was the band stood on a roof, with a tower block in the backdrop, and steam arising, in front of their scarf-hidden faces. However when Los Porcos emerged tonight dressed fully in white with the keyboardist donning heart-shaped sunglasses and the drummer clad in a World Cup 98 shirt, it was clear the similarities ended there.
Opening the set with the sun- blitzed ‘CFA’, yacht rock more befitting of a sun-basked Venice than a sail in the gloomy river Mersey, the band’s fun, no strings-attached approach, is clear from the head, with the enigmatic gangly lead-singer (not formerly of Wu Lyf) throwing his arms around, carrying with him a cultish personality, orchestrating the crowd around the venue. Next comes lead single and undeniable favourite ‘Sunshine’ opening with a funky guitar line and a rhythmic cry from the Faris Badwan lookalike, lead singer , the crowd began to embrace the band on their apparent first ever performance, dancing to the feverishly catchy chorus which declares “you make me feel alright” and is backed up with Hounds of Love-esque repetitive cries of “lover, lover, lover”.
Next comes an un-named new track described as ‘Gangster’ by the lead singer and it is during this song that the band seem to have most fun, with the keyboardist leaving his designated space next to the lead singer to float around the stage clapping and skillfully dribbling in and out of the tight pockets, avoiding his band-mates.
With seven members of the band crowding the stage and with their relentless dancing continuing into next and final song ‘Do You Wanna Live?,’ it is a surprise there are no serious collisions, leading to bum notes. In fact the band tonight are very tight, yet still managing to imbue a party feel around the place, personified with ‘Do I Wanna Live’s’ repeated hook of “Do you live it up? Parties”. However although the song at first is particularly fun, it is prolonged immeasurably beyond the Soundcloud original, losing its fun nature, as the band try to fill their set-time with an extremely small back catalogue.
As the performance curtails there is no disappointment associated with the small setlist as applause ring out in the venue, as the band leave the stage and although they admittedly brought nothing new to the table, tonight was good fun and a great way to spend a Friday evening. Whether this music, which couldn’t be more different than the haunting style of Wu Lyf, was influenced by the four new members or the toppling of a figurehead in Ellery Roberts , who many felt was too intense and rigorous, was at the root of this new style, who knows? However one thing is for sure, if this band continue to maximise the potential as they have done tonight, they can carve their own name in the history books and google searches of Los Porcos will no longer result in (Ex Wu-Lyf) being placed alongside their name, as the band pull themselves away from their past and look forward to a seemingly, bright future.
Los Porcos Official | Facebook | Soundcloud
Hi all, my name is Paddy and I have a love for everything from African music to indie to house (basically anything other than heavy metal). Gigging and listening to albums are genuinely the things I most value and love doing.
another great write up……… thanks