The second of two sold-out shows upstairs in a beautifully decorated Albert kicks off with The Evening Sons with their tight soft rock and melodic pop punk. The bassist deserves particular mention as his playing and performance style really drives the songs. That said, ultimately, while the musical ingredients are certainly full of the kind of flavours this Dinosaur Jr fan enjoys the songs don’t quite grab our attention enough tonight.
Just before Winter Gardens come on a friend who saw the afternoon show sends a message which describes them as goth Abba. As we try and work out exactly what that means they take to the stage and deliver a fun and urgent set of tight poppy goth with glacial female vocal harmonies aka goth Abba. The guitarist is particularly fun to watch, playing some complex parts while ‘giving it some’ – like he’s headlining the Pyramid with a very different band. If the rest of the band learn to go as wild on stage they could be irresistible. New single ‘Guru’ starts with a really dirty synth line and has a nice kick to it. Last song, ‘Laminar Flow Part 2’, has a nice fun edge to it.
Then the gold lamé hits the stage looking stunning surrounded by the handpainted stencil Budgerigars that are everywhere in the venue. A nice touch that adds a clubby vibe to proceedings. This is a band dressed for business and looking very cool, as befits their combined musical heritage. They re-celebrating the release of new album ‘Eat The Gold’.
‘Airports’ starts dreamily before the bass hits hard. Katharine Wallinger really is a badass deliverer of kicking low-end rhythms on those four strings, and tonight we really notice her skills. Perhaps that’s because her amp is pointed straight at us. Perhaps it is down to the acoustics of a smaller room, but this is a block-rocking bass explosion tonight. The band lose themselves in the song. All four members have their eyes shut locked deep into the groove.
The pedigree of this band is a nineties teenage schoolboy’s (aka this aging SOURCE writer’s) wet dream, but that’s not the point. What is the point is how much fun they are. This is a band that deserve your attention because of who they are now, and how good they are now and how much fun they are now. In the upcoming tour supporting The Jesus And Mary Chain, the Glaswegian legends are at risk of being upstaged. That could be heresy but Aircooled really do hit the spot. If you’re going to the Roundhouse shows, get there early and you will limber up nicely.
The hypnotic groove goes on and beautifully on for ‘Offenhauser 360’ from debut album ‘St Leopards’. The presence of Mew is missed on stage, who was with the band at both last year’s fantastic Seaview Festival and Lewes Psychedelic Festival, but it is her artwork making the place look so special, and it is hard to see how you would fit a second keyboard player on the stage!
As the dreamy moment drifts, suddenly Justin, who is a spectacular drummer, hits a roll that slaps everyone round the face!!! Don’t get mongy people: party! Now!! ‘Japanese Brew’ then kicks in with a welcome heavier sound.
“We put this out as a single the other day. Not physical though. Virtual. Did some of you stream it maybe?” says Oliver. “It’s shit” shouts one of their mates and the crowd giggles before possibly the most beautiful tune of the set, ‘Star Rider’, sucks you in and hits you deep in the centre of the armpit chest and delivers the sense of deep glowing internal satisfaction spot that you get from opening that area up in certain yoga poses.
‘Transmission Transmission’ adds some welcome dirty filth. It’s a proper headbanger.
‘Sing Pilgrim, Sing!’ starts with a cheeky triggered loop that could be from a 60s sci-fi show before Riz hits the Korg and plays a line that is not repeated enough at all in the song. Treat ’em mean to keep ’em keen seems to be the order of the day. The song falters like it’s possibly ending. Riz looks cheekily confident and then the Korg line comes back in a way that is perfect. We can’t help but make an audible “phwoar” type sound. Phwoar indeed. What a song.
After some banter about encores being nonsense, which does make some sense in a venue without a backstage area, they announce the start of ‘Supermotodisco’ which is extra fierce tonight and provides a riotous end to a glorious night.
The Prince Albert, Saturday 17th February 2024
Words by Nick McAllister
Photos by Guy Christie
