Slime City Death Squad
A night that I had been looking forward to for some time, all three bands having impressed at gigs in premier Southside venue, The Rum Shack earlier this year. Tonight was set to be a special night celebrating the launch of the long awaited debut album from the peerless SLIME CITY, a band like no other, their album Slime City Death Club already going down as a classic in my book. There was a party atmosphere in St Lukes, even Lewis Capaldi made an appearance despite launching his own album today (Michael M -“I’m not saying don’t buy his album, just buy two of ours”). This night was more than just a gig, it was a celebration of all that is great about Glasgow bands (even if Glasgow is a Shitehole), and the fine record label that links them all, Last Night From Glasgow.
Casual Worker
For those lucky enough to be in early doors, we were treated to a sublime set from my fellow Southsiders, Casual Worker. Despite the name, there is nothing casual about this band, an air of enigmatic coolness emanating from the stage. As I mentioned earlier, I was fortunate to catch the band play a set supporting Scorpio Leisure in The Rum Shack a while back. I thoroughly enjoyed their set on that night, this time round, I was even more bewitched by their hypnotic performance, an exalted exuberance coming from their dark electro goth/pop. Pleasingly, I find it hard to pigeonhole their sound, as dips its toes in a variety of genres. The bassline’s are undoubtedly Cure like in their deeply resonant gothic rumble, I do believe I mentioned the last time, the Cure resemblance extends even to the Simon Gallup low slung bass and stance, never a bad thing in my humble opinion. Eve’s vocal is a joy to behold, as she controls the synth/programming and occasionally loses herself in the music. When blended with the chiming guitars, there is an ethereal quality akin to the likes of Cocteau Twins, Cranes & Shellyann Orphan. There are times when the rhapsodic guitar parts alongside Eve’s heavenly vocal have an exquisitely graceful delicacy, but there is a certain power in that voice that defies that seeming fragility. Their EP, Model Number, was released earlier this year on LNFG. I have been very remiss not to have reviewed this to date. Be sure this will be remedied.
bis
From a band that had me hypnotically transfixed, to one that had me bouncing in a style unbefitting for a bloke of my advancing years, but how can you not when you are faced with an onslaught of killer tunes from the seminal bis? Looking around, I wasn’t the only one, there were pockets of bouncing heads all around me. Steven really needs to put more thought into his stage outfits… his pink jumper while supporting lungleg causing overheating, as was his latest choice of long sleeved velour top. Regardless of how warm and uncomfortable he may have felt, there was no holding back on the relentless intensity and spirited vitality coming from him, John and Manda.
Opening with the classic Action & Drama, there was no let up throughout this ferocious unyielding set culled from current album and crowd pleasing classics. Newer songs Lucky Night, Shopping for Tattoos and Stress are already well loved bis standards inciting crowd singalongs, then you have the euphoric response to debut single Kill Yr Boyfriend and obviously Kandy Pop, with the added boost of Teen C Power and Secret Vampires. I mean what’s not to love? Well just to prove there was life in them yet, the heroic trio tore through a masterful rendition of Eurodisco, before an unexpected (unless you had been following Manda’s posts about her daughter’s school…) closer of the Power Puff Girls theme tune. If I didn’t already know what was still to come, I could have gone home happy right there and then. I may have put two and two together and come up with three, but I do believe one of the future Precious Recordings releases of BBC Radio sessions may well be featuring this iconic trio.
Slime City
I’m not sure I can enunciate in words just how joyous an experience it is attending a Slime City gig. One of a long line of bands hailing from Dennistoun as Michael pointed out…. that list? Lulu… If I was at all spiritual, I could probably describe a Slime City gig as some sort of powerful awakening… As I’m not, I’ll borrow Manda’s words, it’s three good cunts (and a shoe) making an unholy glorious racket like no other, mixing their high energy full on post punk guitar/bass/drums with clever samples, programming and beats. If you don’t go home after a Slime City gig with a grin as wide as the Cheshire Cats, then you are clearly already dead or entirely soulless. Already a power to behold on record, to witness the three Michael’s live on stage takes their songs to an entirely new level. You aren’t just getting the songs, you are getting the full blown Slime City experience led by charismatic frontman Michael M, who has the ability to engage the entire room with his between song banter, “1,2,3 Remain standing” – if you were there, you know. You can’t help but be drawn to his magnetic on stage persona. Also, was this the last appearance for the shoe? Seemingly so, with “Brian” having the winning jigsaw piece and getting to take the fourth member of the band home with him… As well as the shoe though, tonight we were treated to a guest spot from Manda (coming to the rescue with a longer bass cable to alleviate the disconnections experienced when Michael M made his forays across the stage) and ubiquitous Eh Oh sing along with Eddie Mercury….
Trying to chose a highlight from the set is like trying to choose your favourite child, there was nothing not to love, how could you not love songs like Dial Up Internet is the Purest Form of Internet, Great British Skeleton (“this is a song about being ashamed to be British”) and the “love” song (Micahel M – we write a lot of songs about death so we wrote a love song to try to get a hit) You and Everybody That You Love Will One Day Die, or the dig at those ridiculously up their own arses fashion police music fans, Nasa T Shirt (“its great to see so many band t shirts tonight, I see a bis t shirt, I bet you can’t name 5 bis albums can you?”). The more I hear If I Eat Myself Will I Double in Size or Disappear Completely, especially hearing it live, the more I think it has to be a Fall Out Boy pastiche, even down to the lengthy song title. If it isn’t then they out-Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy unintentionally on this one. Listening to Algorithm is a Dancer almost made me decide to give up writing reviews…”nobody cares about your content”… anyway, if you’re reading this – cheers!
Special mentions though to one of my favourite Slime’s songs, Glasgow is a Shitehole, including an emotional emotional straight from the heart intro from Michael, I never did manage to get one of the Mr Happy t-shirts with that legend printed where Glasgow’s Miles Better used to be. Tonight sealed the deal, this is definitely now my favourite song about Glasgow (sorry Sister John, Glasgow is a Rainbow is still up there) and their set closer the brilliant Less Jools More Top of the Pops resulted in a euphoric reaction from the die-hard Death Club gathering of souls. A night not to be forgotten. This was something special that will live long in the memory.
If you’re in London on 27th May, don’t miss out on the opportunity of catching this band live. You will not be disappointed.
The album, Slime City Death Club is available now Slime City – Death Club LP, CD, DL (lastnightfromglasgow.com), as is bis – Systems Music For Home Defence – Vinyl /CD (lastnightfromglasgow.com) and Casual Worker – Model Number EP (Digital + CD Pre-order) (lastnightfromglasgow.com)