Words: Linn Branson
Long gone are the days when you went to a gig and knew (expected? imagined?) the one or two supports were likely to be pretty ropey and just there as the promoter was desperate for something to keep the punters happy early on. Nowadays it is far from unusual to find that the opening artists are more than equal to - if not better than - the headliner themselves.
This Barfly night, one of the regular XFM radio station events hosted by X-Posure's John Kennedy, saw three bands all of good calibre; though depending on your personal taste, the order may well have been reversed and no one would have minded - or even noticed.
Wild Smiles (above) are a band that already look set to be moving out of third-on-the-bill slots without question. Sounding - initially, at least - like a surfed-up TOY variant, the full-on shimmering, reverb-rich guitars opener ' Saturday Night' takes such a pounding on Joe Peden's guitar that going into the set's second song, a stringbreak creates a momentary pause in proceedings. It is this high energy, radio friendly crowd pleaser 'Take Me Away' (released yesterday, July 8) that has brought the trio from Hampshire to attention. A fact which is surprising in itself given that from vocalist Chris Peden's hair whipping moves and punkish take on 'Tangled Hair', there is a lot that could easily place them as being from New Hampshire, USA, rather than our rather more modest Winchester.
London quartet It Hugs Back (above) are next to take to the stage. Much of their set comes from the 'Recommended Record' album released in May - and which seemingly vocalist Matthew Simms (resident with Wire since 2011) is still getting to grips with, lyrics-wise, as he elegantly discards the lyricsheets to the floor after each number. Sonic Youth influenced; fuzzy guitar pedal effects, coupled with often relentless drum hits; part shoegaze-esque, part Clash. The jubilant synth swirls of 'Sa Sa Sa Sails' bring them bang up to date and, despite, the rather fey name, a band worth anyone's money.
Night headliners Thought Forms provide a set of interest and one that while technically and artistically reaches heights that please their fans on the audience, for those not familiar with the Wiltshire drone-rockers might have been left asking themselves whether every song had to last what seemed like an eternity. Though given their latest 'Ghost Mountain' album was almost 50 minutes in length and still contained just eight tracks, it was not a great surprise. They combine, mostly effectively, elements of noise and psych, and in such a way that it probably works best if you're spliffing and spacing and blissed-out like, man, otherwise it may all seem, well, seem a very long half-hour.
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