A very strong start from young local band M Woodrow whose distorted chord intro makes the Hope shake as they embark on a lurching psych grunge odessey. The best songs build in a slow and heavy way, although sweetness with its angular riff adds a change of pace. Whilst clearly hugely nervous to be in the limelight there is a confidence to the songwriting that suggests this act will go further.
Londoners: Wonderbug kick off at a jaunty pace with a mix of pop punk and Britpop. But while this writer ran away from the turgid side of Britpop to go raving in the woods something about the song arrangements and the shared vocals guitar tones keep our attention. ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ is particularly pleasing.
Shady Baby explode in a classic three piece guitar band way. They play melodic grunge reminiscent of Midway Still and Swervedriver, which is no bad thing as those are two bands that have regularly found their way from the dustier depths of this writer’s record collection shelf and on to the turntable. It’s just an intrinsically satisfying sound. Looking around the room, others are clearly thinking the same thing. They finish with new single Held In with its soaring guitar part over a tight rhythm section.
Headliners Cucamaras take to the stage exuding that gang confidence common in bands from more northern parts, (although Nottingham is more than technically; the Midlands). They have a really nice way with melody and that helps drive the nastiness in a Fontaines DC direction.
There are some killer bass lines underneath the classic rock n roll. “Can you feel the agitation” sings Josh in Willmslow Storm Warning. Hell yes we can and we like it!!!
‘London Day 2’ from new to be released ep shows the band have more up their sleeves.
Olly pulls his shirt off to reveal a classic rock against racism t-shirt. Sweat pours off the guitarist as they jump straight into the encore of ‘Spoken Word’ without fuss to beat the curfew. A wild seventies storm of a song, it still has something in The tank to end on a crescendo.
Hidden Herd Presents – Cucamaras, Shady Baby, Wunderbug, M Woodrow
The Hope and Ruin – 29th January
Words: Nick McAllister
Pictures: Stan O’Shea
