lightning bolt at islington mill
Yesterday. Back at Islington Mill for Lightning Bolt. Two support acts. Pocketknife up first. They were a bit monochrome and would have been more impressive if it was 23 years ago and you hadn't heard Pixies or Babes In Toyland. Next was probably Tweak Bird although I'm not 100% on that. Hey, I don't need to be. They were better with flute and sax adding texture to a much bouncier rhythm and one of the silliest drum set-ups I've ever seen. Seat quite low, one cymbal way above head height, gong to the side.
I like it when bands don't fuck about. So Tuesday although they have a big set-up the crew for Sunn 0))) do last minute fannying about while people are coming in and through B J Nilsen's set so they can start straight off. Yesterday as Tweak Bird (or whoever, what am I, Pitchfork?) were starting to dismantle their kit Lightning Bolt were plugging in and switching on. Obviously it was more or less set up and in place already. Imagine... well almost any other band setting up their kit and leaving it at the side of a venue where anyone might trip over it.
And then they kicked off. Two people. Bass, drums and heavily distorted vocals. And yet way more colourful than either of the two bands preceding. Absolute melee on the three sides open to the room. Plenty of old favourites like Dracula Mountain. Hot as anything. Not as loud as Sunn 0))) but don't need to be when you're up close and personal like that. Encored but Brian Gibson's pedals had got fucked up or something so it kind of fell apart twice before they had to quit. Some attempts at crowd surfing but not quite enough people and impossible to get put down at the front so that was kind of patchy. Totally different kind of energy to the day before.
If you don't know what they're like check out Wonderful Rainbow and Hypermagic Mountain for starters. Ideally played out through chest-freezer size speakers on a busy commuter train. Trust me, even the longest journey will seem way too short.
I like it when bands don't fuck about. So Tuesday although they have a big set-up the crew for Sunn 0))) do last minute fannying about while people are coming in and through B J Nilsen's set so they can start straight off. Yesterday as Tweak Bird (or whoever, what am I, Pitchfork?) were starting to dismantle their kit Lightning Bolt were plugging in and switching on. Obviously it was more or less set up and in place already. Imagine... well almost any other band setting up their kit and leaving it at the side of a venue where anyone might trip over it.
And then they kicked off. Two people. Bass, drums and heavily distorted vocals. And yet way more colourful than either of the two bands preceding. Absolute melee on the three sides open to the room. Plenty of old favourites like Dracula Mountain. Hot as anything. Not as loud as Sunn 0))) but don't need to be when you're up close and personal like that. Encored but Brian Gibson's pedals had got fucked up or something so it kind of fell apart twice before they had to quit. Some attempts at crowd surfing but not quite enough people and impossible to get put down at the front so that was kind of patchy. Totally different kind of energy to the day before.
If you don't know what they're like check out Wonderful Rainbow and Hypermagic Mountain for starters. Ideally played out through chest-freezer size speakers on a busy commuter train. Trust me, even the longest journey will seem way too short.
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