Having played a blinder of a set at Audio earlier in the year the simple fact is that Metz should be a lot larger than they are – but let’s be thankful they aren’t just yet. They seem focused on playing hard and giving the audience a show rather than just going through the motions.

‘Get Off’, ‘Headache’ and ‘Sad Pricks’ are all smashed through with real aplomb. Alex Edkins is captivating to watch and the trio show how tight a smaller set of musicians really can be.

Mudhoney are a band that this SOURCE writer loved along with other grunge luminaries like Sonic Youth, Tad and Nirvana. Teenage angst doesn’t last forever and tonight it feels a bit like watching four dads playing in a garage band. Hard to imagine a time when they toured with Nirvana but we have to remember that Kurt would also be an old dad by now.

They go through their back catalogue with conviction but it often feels quite sterile. To give them full credit the set is peppered with great songs like ‘Chardonnay’, ‘The Only Son Of The Widow Of Nain’ and ‘No One Has’. ‘Good Enough’ from their 1991 album ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge’ is a particular highlight.

Lesson learned for Mudhoney – don’t have a support band that echo the energy and passion you lost 20 years ago.

Concorde2, Tuesday 4th June 2013
Words and photos by Dan Griffiths