Initial listens to their follow up album 'Fits' didn't blow me away so it was with much mixed apprehension that I set out for tonights gig!! You'll be glad to know that I managed to arrive at venue on time and in one piece. What I first noticed was that virtually everyone I spotted within the first few minutes of entering the venue was in a band, ran a label or a club night or did press for bands..it was totally fucking scene in their and obviously I slotted in like a dog in wig turning up to a Megan Fox lookalike contest.
The support band were half way through their set when I arrived. To be honest I wasn't really listening to them. If I could remember their name I'd probably try and catch them again (presuming they were local which I think they were!)
White Denim came on stage at 9.15...Now that's a cracking gig time for midweek non of this dicking about after midnight mularky here. With any luck I might be able get back for last few minutes of USA dumping Spain out of the Confederation Cup ( I didn't btw). They are a three piece of conventional nature; drums, bass and guitar but that's where the usual conventions end. The guitarist chuggs out a few piercing lead lines, loops them, and then off they go and when they do the room is literally shaking. I'm stood near the PA so it's loud but this is really loud and I'm straining to see what's going on stage. The deafening din seems to whisper a melody that I faintly recognise as from the first album. Guitarist and bassist are jumping around wailing into their mics. Drummer is set in the middle, front of stage..best place for a drummer that I think.
Five minutes in i realise they're playing "Let's Talk about it" and they've just meandered from one song to the next and then while I'm contemplating that they drift seamlessly into "Shake Shake Shake". The band are equal measure tight and sloppy...the melodies sound all over the shop and I can see the guitarist is almost laughing his way through what on the album was intricate lead lines and are now fuzzy, trebly squeals. To counter that together as a band they are so tight. Songs that seem a maddening noise stop and start abruptly. Guitar and bass drop out leaving the drummer pounding along, both guitar and bass player stand watching waiting for some unheard signal and then launch along with him. It's loud and frantic but most of all I'm struck by how much fun they seem to be having. Not bothered with playing the right notes or singing the right words it seems to be about the energy and they've certainly got it. This "first number" which seems to be a medley of sorts of most of the first album lasts for almost 30 minutes when they finally pause to wipe the pouring sweat from their faces.
"Thanks a lot for coming out see ya later" the drummer quips, but I'm thinking that past half hour was more exciting than most things I've seen. They blast through a few more tracks the headband wearing guitarist is soaked in sweat but it's the chinese guy in front of me who catches my eye for two reasons! First of all his moshing causes his sweat to fly in my face, and then he's just moshing too slow..well at half speed or maybe I'm tapping my foot at double speed anyway just as I'm getting into a track he get's into it to and he's moshing at half the speed I'm tapping my foot and ......well..it's really off putting...I dunno why! But he's ruining it ok?? And his girlfriend is doing that "I'm trying really hard to look like I'm into this" thing with massive over the top dance moves that aren't really called for. In any case it wouldn't be a proper review if I didn't sulk at some banal shit would it??
The White denim sound...I dunno I hate describing what bands sound like...(why bother writing this then??) but it's a mash of white boy blues, liquer and adrenalin. When I say white boy blues I'm not talking about some purist like Rory Gallagher more along a pissed up Keef backed by a pissed up Cream...oh I dunno...There's bits that remind me of Hendrix and parts that sound like the Minutemen. "Heart From Us All" and "All you really have to do" great songs in their own right but tonight amongst the fury the way they suddenly break down layering space with some fantastically original melody's well it's working on me. There's always a problem with bands that receive massive hype but tonight is one of them nights when you realise that sometimes what people describe as hype is just people telling other people "Hey..you should check this out..it's fucking ace" and to be honest there's really nothing wrong with that!!
They finish tonight with instrumental "WDA" from the first album. The guitarist seems to fluff virtually every riff but he doesn't seem to care and to be honest I don't think anyone else does either. My heads pounding by the time I get home. You heard the hype about White Denim?? Yeah fucking ace band!!
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