The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

I dunno. You can still smell varnish in the air and it feels a bit like being in an expensively lit Yates' but here we are, 'The Latest Energy Drink' Garage, Highbury & Islington. Support comes tonight from Little Death and Twin Atlantic so on with the show.

Little Death, you will have already heard from the more esoterically inclined wankers you call friends is what some French, equally esoteric wankers, call the orgasm. Some Germans also call it a little death when you split up with your other but I'm blaming that on the French too. None of that has anything to do with the rather nice sound these grungy Ash kids start making at around just not-digested-dinner-enough time. Hell though, they make a good racket. Only problem is I can't figure out if that's Darlene's boyfriend from Roseanne or not slinging around his Gibson guitar. Well, I asked and it wasn't but they did play some impressive, on-the-minute reverberated, don't-look-at-your-shoe-gazey stuff and people liked it. Hot female bassist completes the win.

Which is more than you can say for the next troop of misguided fellows.

This band is called Placebo. In the first song. Then they get into a more familiar groove and start calling themselves Biffy Clyro, then later and for the rest of the set it's Funeral For A Friend - or they would if they had any honesty. Their real names? Twin Atlantic.

Let me tell you about this singer: Cunt.

To walk onto a London stage, where within a stones through we could probably have chosen to see ten chart screwing artists, and tell us that we're boring as shit because we aren't rocking out to a tune we've never heard before from a band we've never heard before? Dude, even if your shit wasn't weak copyist emo-rock with about as much depth as a puddle in the Sahara you'd be looking like a cunt. The best bit was when you called the crowd - your potential fans - fashionistas whilst wearing a low cut v-neck white T and tight trousers. Then the best bit after that was when you gave us all the bird and finally threw down your guitar like a spoilt bitch because you remembered you aren't a rock star and can't afford to break your shit. Shame, because the rest of the band was spot on. Little whiner letting the side down with his hissy fits. Shame.

But on to the main show and The Joy Formidable. It's always strange having less to talk about the positive than the negative but there it is. The Joy Formidable played a great set. Ritzy gave it some real business and it's always nice to see a lady shred. Always.

A really nice touch is the drummer being set up at stage left front so he's more part of the action, especially in a three piece scenario. The crowd has more to look at that way. The ending was a little contrived but the set as a whole was thoroughly convincing. Problem is, bands these days are so well schooled we always know what to expect, even if it is for a live CD.

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

That's twice you have referred to a break up in your recent batch of reviews, Burt. Have you just experienced one?

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

Really? Nah, quite the opposite in fact. Guess I'm just channelling past experiences.

Damn though, I can't remember writing this. That was pretty sweary, even for me.

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

Absolutely PMSL. I had similar when some git in Manchester (different band, they can remain nameless, they don't deserve a mention). Second on in a line up of five and calling US the audience miserable bastards. Pity was, they were really very good, but now I just don't care. The problem is that it can spoil the whole night.

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

Yeah you didn't like that guy, did you?

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

Go on - name 'em!

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

Mental Note to Burt: Don't review when drunk as you use the C word lots.

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

That would seriously curtail my window of opportunity for writing there Chris. Hope no kids were reading. Actually, they'd probably be able to tell me a few new swears.

Yeah, it's stupid. I am so bored of bands coming to London with a fully formed chip on their shoulder. Get over yourselves. Earn the respect, be better, don't whine and get on with it.
Hell, a 'London crowd' consists mainly of people travelling in from the satellites anyway, most of the time. But apart from that, bands shouldn't imagine they will get the same reaction from a gig in one of the world's capitals that they do from some town where only three bands pass through a month. It's naive and counterproductive. Calling me a wanker on stage and trying to sell me a t-shirt over in the corner by the bar? Madness.

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

I've only recently experienced my first London audience for a few years - that being at the Scala for Wye Oak / Okkervil River. What amazed me was that unlike Manchester where you eventually get to know the rest of the front row regulars, I was immediately chatting to other people in the audience. I then thought were a very receptive audience even to the support that they'd never heard of. I actually think that's easier than playing to 25 people in Crewe or Wrexham. OTOH I'll go to a few more London gigs before I generalise too much.
But you're right Burt, the bands I've respected (specifically including TJF) - they are completely professional even when they are playing to small provincial audiences in the early days of their career

Re: The Joy Formidable @ The Relentless Garage [Live]
 

I just remembered these guys are on my Myspace friends list, and yeah the bassist is hot and I kind of see what you are saying about Darlene's boyfriend.