Yak
-YES, MANCHESTER-
Déjà Vega
The 3-piece’s formula could be deciphered as: drumming reminiscent of one of those Palm Desert bands from the early 1990s, no doubt putting the kit’s structural integrity into question as the concussive quality surprisingly rings through a sound system I certainly wouldn’t count as Manchester’s finest. The bass playing, with a tone I view favourably, tends to stay in a quasi-static pattern; I’d say the least adventurous element of this band, sadly. As for the guitar, it has its moments of interest but it doesn’t really seem to stand out beyond some slightly interesting soloing and being replaced with a modulator synth for various purposes. And the vocals, they project quite well but some of the lyrics delivered veer on the goofy side (You can’t escape what you hide?), the sparing use of hardcore style shouting not really invoking any kind of resonance (with me at least). The extended instrumental on their last song, ‘The Test’, actually does ease some of my opinions and highlights the potential this band has.
Mush
Next on the roster emerge some dudes from Leeds, about four of them to be exact. They seem to play this rather off-beat sound that actually really catches my interest; the guitarists almost metaphorically become two pencils working in conjunction to make a bizarro, child-like drawing that would somehow pass for showing at some eccentric, modern ‘art’ gallery (bespectacled, scarf wearing professors and all). Anyway, another point of interest lies in the vocal style, it works best when all three of them work in unison, whether they are chanting or harmonising, it really adds to the indulgent-buckfast-drinking-art-school-student-who’s-hawked-his-dad’s-krautrock-vinyl-collection ethos. Though their sound starts to repeat itself somewhat, progression will surely strengthen their own variety department and perhaps help replace the boring indie-psych craze that many bands have been swept up in. P.S. To not mention the drumming would warrant an indictment to the International Criminal Court (It was good).
Yak
As grating as the 3-letter (or 4) band name trend can be, the esteemed trio, along with a technician concealed behind the PA, fill the Pink Room capacity to the point that even the most lax of health and safety inspectors would gasp with perturbation. Playing cuts from their clunkily named second LP, the guitarist and lead vocalist employs a conventional microphone and one with a megaphone attached for additional effect (Scott Weiland did it better). With regards to the rhythm, the versatility of the drumming really affords the band additional colour to their performance; he knows not to pull a Ginger Baker. Recognising that this band is essentially guitar driven in its direction, the bassist competently doesn’t get in the way and supports the frontman’s hubristic whims as crunchily as he can.
I very much enjoy the gig, repeatedly ignoring my note-taking duties in favour of violently crashing into other gig goers in a slightly hostile fashion, to the detriment of one’s jaw and knee. Seemingly they extend their set as they wank their way through what I suspect to be improvised jams/attempted covers (‘Happiness is a Warm Gun’, ‘Dazed and Confused’?) which only serve to add further sweat to everyone in the musical vicinity. But what really takes the fudge was the leading music-man’s decision to not once, and certainly not twice… but thrice dive into the crowd with his guitar in tow, in turn drawing out the concealed tech from his dwelling to reign him in when necessary; the audience lift him up as if he were one of those Dionysus emulators from an era long past. Violated lighting systems and modulator synth augmentation aside, this band display a strong live presence that is somewhat hamstringed by the weaker material of their second LP, in comparison to their first; it happens I suppose.
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Recent career decisions have compelled me into the journalistic... thing; I could list my literary influences or even debate which 3rd rate beverage has the best economic value per litre (But I won’t). Oh, in addition, I write reviews for the Independents Network.
