All photos courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography
They’re back. With a huge fuck off vengeance. Who’s that I hear you ask? Well, The fucking Hedrons of course… but, before they utterly owned the Room 2 stage, it was the return of another legendary band to return to the live arena. And what a fucking return it was.
The band with one of the best names in music, f.o. machete (in its original context, not the family friendly “fresh orange” on their current badges and stickers), tore through their set, laying waste to Room 2 and leaving a scene of joyful devastation, and gobsmacked punters, in their wake.
After what must have been about 15 years in hibernation, the band hit their stride immediately, producing a gold medal performance to match their sparkling outfits. The set included old favourites, like Credit Card, while being bolstered by new songs from their forthcoming album on LNFG. Jettison particularly went straight for the jugular from the off, a behemoth of a tune, its wall of sound hitting you like a pulsing blast wave. Natasha commented the song was about declutterring. It certainly decluttered my eardrums and blew away the cobwebs. Later in the set, the slow build of Panda was phenomenal, from its minimalistic low key beginning, the intensity rising right through to its immense climax left me slack jawed in admiration before closing out their set in style with another new song wrought with passionate searing guitars and pulsating bass. Welcome back to the fray.
The Hedrons made their return in style more recently (their SWG3 gig is reviewed here – incidentally my first collaboration with Chris Hogge) but tonight was all about launching their superb new album, the triumphant Tired of Taking (reviewed here). The gig was a triumph in every way imaginable. Tippi, Gill, Rosie and Soup were all in the form of their lives, despite Tippi’s protestations of needing a break and a sit down (she did manage a wee sit down in the wee of the stage), the band radiated a youthful exuberance. Perhaps they were feeding from the bouyant energy from the vibrant crowd, including many of Tippi and Soup’s students, some making it very clear their partisan thoughts on the animated drummer. Tippi returned the favour, and acknowledged the fervour with a foray into the crowd during the set.
The quartet performed like a well-oiled machine, the years falling away as their set progressed like no time at all had passed since first time around. There were plenty of reminders of their journey to date, alongside some questionable hairstyles, in the video backdrop which provided a reminder of just what the band achieved in their initial incarnation.
Tired of Taking’s songs sat shoulder to shoulder with the older tracks. The likes of Heartache and Only When it Rains already Hedrons classics, while the opening track of the album, Give Me a Chance, in its raw energetic live form, gave off thunderous rumbling Stooges vibes.
The songs kept coming, banger after banger, with nary a chance to catch breath, for band or punter, Be My Friend a particular highlight, and the double whammy of Falling Star and the ballsy rocker Heatseeker lifting us sky high as the energy peaked and reached its zenith with Only When it Rains and the glorious I Need You seemingly closing out the set. I say seemingly as, despite these being the last songs on the set list, there was one last treat to come.
The last hoorah came in the form of a breakneck face-melting run through of Dear Thomas. According to Tippi, this was unplanned and unrehearsed, but to the delighted crowd, this was a rare treat. The foursome looked as if they were enjoying playing the blistering rocket-fuelled tune just as much as those in front of them were enjoying bathing in its high velocity glory. Just one look at Soup’s knowing grin as she furiously pounded the skins at full tilt spoke a thousand words. The girls are well and truly back on top and loving it. In true Beyoncé style, The Hedrons are well and truly running this mutha, and this man respects what they do.
This was one special night. Both bands at the top of their game. If you get the chance, don’t miss any opportunity to catch either of them live. In the meantime, get over to The Big Blue or onto LNFG and get your Time for Taking vinyl, and while you’re at it, pre-order f.o. machete’s new album.
Last Night From Glasgow – The Hedrons