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But anyway, Kilter were the first delight in prospect, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Swirling amongst us with their slow-burning songs, the delicious opener slowly reaching its dark crescendo as Inga's sweet rich voice and Barney's bass direct the vulnerable tune. Then they whip into 'Solar', all hooks and accessible speedy pop, skipped through exhilaratingly. In fact though, I feel they are at their strength when stroking out those slower tracks, building up with strength and emotion, which really tickle you the most. 'Call The Day' is another highlight, poised and ready to burst out loud but remaining at just the right point. It's not easily categorised, they aren't one thing or another, and they're too exciting for you to even dare lump them in with the gloom-rock bollocks of certain bands around. Kilter take something very special, and craft delicious prickly tunes from it. Very special. Unknowingly I'd been chatting away with one of Leechwoman during a break in Kilter's set, and hadn't the slightest clue what to expect from them. By the end I was still slightly bemused, but they'd put on a pretty interesting show. Two of them had bright red hair, one of them with a beard, with a pair of them on guitars and the other at the back beating away at dustbins and gas cylinders. Ah yes. They proceeded to make a melded racket of industrial terrorising guitars and tribal rhythmic patterns, while upon the back wall they gave us projections of images of torture, mutilation and smiling Americans that were as hypnotising and transfixing as the music. It was hard, almost brutally executed, authoritarian, vicious and powerful stuff, and the band really put across what they were doing well live. Extra marks for the moment in but the second song when the 'drummer' at the back got out a power drill and set to work on the dustbin, sending sparks flying sky-high and probably singeing the curtains nicely in the process. I've heard one of their songs on record since and sadly it doesn't come close, lacking the power they put over live. Definitely a band that needs experiencing at a gig rather than on a cd. Related anecdote: in the toilets just after Leechwoman had performed, I was stood next to A Friend Of The Monsoon Bassoon who'd had a drink or two (I think most people in there had...), and was lucidly enthusing about what he'd just seen. "It was just so powerful, in-your-face, full-on, really absorbing, you don't often get to see a band quite like that live...";. Enter a rather unimpressed bloke, who walks over and simply pronounces, "I thought they were shit actually!";. Perfect. Um, so Jetpak were next, with their excitable pointed punky emo-rock easily getting the crowd going with very little trouble at all. They are one 'local' band that would surely make a sizeable mark further out, and they succeed in making the JBMTS children (!) dance away, and all the audience seem to enjoy what they're playing. They are very good. I like them a lot. It's far from one-trick stuff either, switching from more abrasive rocky moments to lighter punky ones, but kept from being your generic boring usual stuff by a sprinkling of sharp, maybe Fugazi-ish, emo punch into the mix, without going too awkward. However there are point where they wane, 'F&C' is too light and 'Saviour' is a disappointing note to end upon. But they return with 'Superhero' and things finish on a high note. That just left the late-in-arriving The Monsoon Bassoon to take the stage. Unfortunately someone's forgotten to switch the mics on so 'King Of Evil' is an instrumental guitar-battered rock-out instead. We delve further into their voodoo rock catacombs once they are working though, before they take the pace down slightly with the chilling calm of 'Volcano', Karvus tickling his guitar with the drumsticks until it wails and squeals in that delectable way it does. But it's not till they hurtle headlong and sideways into 'Wise Guy' that all the kinks are smoothed out and the band have regained their sharpness completely, points and corners everywhere, the harmonies spliced together and quiet-loud snappiness to perfection with the clarinet interlude. They polish it all off with a glorious version of 'In The Iceman's Back Garden', skulking up on you dangerously and strung out to breaking point. Then that apocalyptic bassline comes in and it grows to a deadly close, with Sarah over there now, perched impishly on an amp in the corner, smirking. As well she might. Suitably blown away, the crowd beckons them back on for an encore as the clocks turn to midnight, and they give us a track that may just be improbably titled 'Fuck You Fuck Your Telescope';. And this one has a flute in it. Plus it's possibly the best track of the night. Truly, you spoil us. The scores from the floors? A great big 10 all round (or a healthy "5 Chops", as JBMTS may say...) Pete Flynn Jetpak setlist: Displacement / Fahrenheit & Celsius / And When / 15 Minutes / Holiday / One Left / Our Fun / Saviour The Monsoon Bassoon setlist: The King Of Evil / Commando / Soda Pop & Ash / Volcano / Wise Guy / The Very best Of Badluck '97 / In The Iceman's Back Garden |