Review: An Horse, Gliss, Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Barfly Camden, July 8th.
Posted by: nick
While passing a long line of punters queuing for David Guetta’s iTunes festival show just up the road at The Roundhouse I was rather smug to be trotting into a much more exciting gig just ten minutes before it started. Cymbals Eat Guitars and An Horse scrapped it out for the best set of the night at Barfly. Two very different bands that demand your attention for very different reasons.
Cymbals Eat Guitars opened the show. For those unfamiliar they’re a band that employs the much loved indie-rock quiet/loud formula endeared to us so much by the likes of Modest Mouse, a band that Cymbals certainly tip their cap to more than a little. Album and show opener ‘And The Hazy Sea’ is a prime example of this. Aptly nicknamed front-man Joseph Ferocious is one hell of a performer, wrestling with his guitar more than playing it, his vocals going from lullaby mode into all out growling attack, all the while sweating like a mad man. It’s really something to behold. The sounds that emanate from his guitar too are thrilling, his solo on ‘Some Trees (Merrit Moon)’ a decent example.
Their songs are layered with dreamy textures courtesy of Brian Hamilton on keys while Neil Berenholz’s athletic bass playing and Matthew Miller’s driving drums successfully negotiate Joseph’s pace changes. ‘Indiana’ is the lightest number they lay down, a simple guitar riff and poppy vocal line backed up by a piano sound which just manages to stay the right side of cheesy making the track a resounding success. It’s set closer ‘Wind Phoneix (Proper Name)’ though which is the real highlight giving this tight band a chance to showcase all their tricks. Beautiful soft vocals, playful bass and warm keys part to allow Joseph’s initially sunny guitar riffs to whip up an inviting storm through which his now shouted vocals guide you. And then breathe.
If you like heart to your music then you’ll heart this. Cymbals Eat Guitars play three more London shows (see below) before heading back to the States for a show with Yeasayer followed by appearances at the Pitchfork festival and then a 20+ date US tour with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Expect these guys to follow in TPOBPAH’s footsteps to be new indie heroes come the end of the summer.
L.A. boy-girl-boy three-piece Gliss disappointingly don’t quite hit the same heights for this reviewer at least. Their sound oozes L.A. rock as does their appearance, all groomed hair and different shades of black. There’s something that seems a little contrived about them. Maybe it’s the seemingly rehearsed instances whereby guitarist and bassist come together to jam and then walk away as if they are simply going through the motions. There’s too much cool and too little passion having just seen a band like Cymbals maybe makes this more apparent than it would normally be.
Still the band’s musical ability is impressive, each member rotating for turns on guitar, bass and drums. The only constants are sometimes front-man David’s vocals and striking blonde haired Dane, Victoria’s backing vocals. Unfortunately you can’t make out a word of it tonight. We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it’s the sound levels. Songs that impress on record like ‘29 Acts Of Love’ and ‘Lovers In The Bathroom’ are stand outs in a set that’s otherwise just impressive jamming.
An Horse are a real breath of fresh air in a year when indie music is being dominated by bands that can be rewarding but occasionally a bit hard work like Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors. They’re a straight up pop-punk duo of guitar and drums. They used to work in a record shop in OZ together. Kate plays guitar and sings, Damon plays drums and sings backing vocals.
Kate, amazed at this sold out weekday crowd, playfully checks with the audience that they’re not here to see a different band and later expresses wonder at how so many people know the words seeing that they are yet to release their debut album ‘Rearrange Beds’ in the UK. The power of the Internet hey! ‘Camp Out’ is a hit single in the waiting with its great sing-along lines of “and like that one good Hole album I can Live Through This” and “you want to camp out and I want to screw around in the dark, in the dark”. It’s kind of kiddy but it’s fun being a kid. ‘Postcards’ is another top tune – all together now – “no postcards are romantic when they’re intact, no postcards are romantically full of fact”! If you like one of these songs the chances are you’ll like the rest like us. Watch out world.
Catch An Horse at White Light @ The Lexington tomorrow, July 10th.
mp3: An Horse – Postcards
mp3: Cymbals Eat Guitars – Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)
live: Cymbals Eat Guitars: The Windmill, July 9th / FREE: Pure Groove instore, July 10th / Proud Gallery, July 11th.
live: Gliss: Water Rats, July 9th.
live: An Horse: White Light @ The Lexington, July 10th.
