Post by blade on Feb 15, 2011 18:37:39 GMT
Source: www.highvoltage.org.uk/article.php?type=5&id=1150
Text:
07.Feb // Sad Day for Puppets - Moho Live, Manchester
First up tonight were locals Peyote Cult, who unfortunately after a promising scorched-psych intro never quite resolved into anything very arresting. Though, if I'm honest, their closer did have some kick, in general the set was rather too close to the kind of Oasis-revivalist lad rock that Manchester has been trying to shuck off for the better part of a decade. Never mind. Another point worthy of mention is that you can't just nick the bulk of the riff from 'Back in Black' and get away with it, seriously. Just sayin'.
Second up were a band called Call Me Diva. Words can't quite express the horror. Like a mutant wedding function band trying to write their own songs, the music would have been enough but for their outfits. Like Peter's band in Family Guy they were all pulling in different directions- a bassist straight out of Madness, a singer imitating Beth Ditto and a drummer wearing what can only be described as a Hitcher outfit (mask with big nose, Slash hat with white circles; all that was wanting was some green face-paint). Terrifying.
Finally, Sad Day for Puppets took to the stage. Despite the thin crowd and frankly bizarre support, the band ripped through a set that served as an instant reminder of why it's always worth braving the rain where Swedish noise-pop is concerned. Battling a sore throat, singer Anna Eklund repeatedly apologised for her performance, but she needn't have; it was bloody fantastic. Their set was a mix of old and new, with my first-album favourite 'Shiny Teeth and Sharpened Claws' getting an early airing, while 'Last Night' also reared its head for an appropriately thrashy moment. New single 'Sorrow, Sorrow', came across very well live, as well as what I think I recognised as a re-working of 'Big Waves'. I don't know whether it simply didn't occur me before or whether the band really are playing slightly differently this time around, but I couldn't help but be struck by the way that not only the textures and melodies, but the rhythm section in particular have gone really Smashing Pumpkins (which can only be a good thing). I know they freely admit to loving Siamese Dream, but I really hadn't noticed it in their sound before tonight, which is pretty weird.
Returning to the setlist, from the second album highlights undoubtedly came in the form of 'Such a Waste' and a stormy 'Monster and the Beast'. With some of the more downtempo numbers included as well, it was pretty marked where first-album songs diverged from the newer fare of Pale Silver & Shiny Gold. For while it may seem like a very throwaway comment, the new record really is a lot darker than its predecessor, and this fact is far more apparent when the songs sit side-by-side in a set than when you listen at home. Let's be completely honest here, if you listen to too much shoegaze it does rather begin to blend into one, and consequently it's always a pleasant surprise just how easily this band in particular are able to keep your attention, helped in no small fact by the complete change in mood between each album cycle's worth of songs.
So, once again a fantastic Manchester show from Sad Day for Puppets, but where's the crowd that they deserve? I'll leave somebody else to answer that, because I know where I'll be next time they roll through town.
Rating: 5/5
Words by: Alex Lynham
Text:
07.Feb // Sad Day for Puppets - Moho Live, Manchester
First up tonight were locals Peyote Cult, who unfortunately after a promising scorched-psych intro never quite resolved into anything very arresting. Though, if I'm honest, their closer did have some kick, in general the set was rather too close to the kind of Oasis-revivalist lad rock that Manchester has been trying to shuck off for the better part of a decade. Never mind. Another point worthy of mention is that you can't just nick the bulk of the riff from 'Back in Black' and get away with it, seriously. Just sayin'.
Second up were a band called Call Me Diva. Words can't quite express the horror. Like a mutant wedding function band trying to write their own songs, the music would have been enough but for their outfits. Like Peter's band in Family Guy they were all pulling in different directions- a bassist straight out of Madness, a singer imitating Beth Ditto and a drummer wearing what can only be described as a Hitcher outfit (mask with big nose, Slash hat with white circles; all that was wanting was some green face-paint). Terrifying.
Finally, Sad Day for Puppets took to the stage. Despite the thin crowd and frankly bizarre support, the band ripped through a set that served as an instant reminder of why it's always worth braving the rain where Swedish noise-pop is concerned. Battling a sore throat, singer Anna Eklund repeatedly apologised for her performance, but she needn't have; it was bloody fantastic. Their set was a mix of old and new, with my first-album favourite 'Shiny Teeth and Sharpened Claws' getting an early airing, while 'Last Night' also reared its head for an appropriately thrashy moment. New single 'Sorrow, Sorrow', came across very well live, as well as what I think I recognised as a re-working of 'Big Waves'. I don't know whether it simply didn't occur me before or whether the band really are playing slightly differently this time around, but I couldn't help but be struck by the way that not only the textures and melodies, but the rhythm section in particular have gone really Smashing Pumpkins (which can only be a good thing). I know they freely admit to loving Siamese Dream, but I really hadn't noticed it in their sound before tonight, which is pretty weird.
Returning to the setlist, from the second album highlights undoubtedly came in the form of 'Such a Waste' and a stormy 'Monster and the Beast'. With some of the more downtempo numbers included as well, it was pretty marked where first-album songs diverged from the newer fare of Pale Silver & Shiny Gold. For while it may seem like a very throwaway comment, the new record really is a lot darker than its predecessor, and this fact is far more apparent when the songs sit side-by-side in a set than when you listen at home. Let's be completely honest here, if you listen to too much shoegaze it does rather begin to blend into one, and consequently it's always a pleasant surprise just how easily this band in particular are able to keep your attention, helped in no small fact by the complete change in mood between each album cycle's worth of songs.
So, once again a fantastic Manchester show from Sad Day for Puppets, but where's the crowd that they deserve? I'll leave somebody else to answer that, because I know where I'll be next time they roll through town.
Rating: 5/5
Words by: Alex Lynham