After the gig to celebrate the release of the or new record, I think we can safely say The Kidney Flowers new album is well and truly launched, along with a large percentage of the gathering in The Old Hairdressers who spent the night crowd surfing and gleefully body slamming into anyone who cared to reciprocate.
This was a breathless night in many ways, the breakneck speed of 99% of the songs, with nary a chance to register what was happening between songs, and quick handovers between bands leaving no time to take a breath, but also the stifling heat in the venue, probably in no small part the temperature raised by the heaving mass of bodies, adding to the intoxicating and suffocatingly intense atmosphere.
Grant and Co. could be seen running around putting tables and loose chairs out of harms way prior to the gig. I initially wondered about the necessity of this, after all I’ve been in plenty of gigs in the venue when these were still present. It didn’t take long after Club Dumm started to get an idea of exactly how educated the decision made through the foresight Grant and his actions showed.
Club Dumm kicked things off as part of a triumvirate of support bands, including The Crails and Gelatine, part of a group of musicians who were obviously all well known to each other, and as a community of bands with friends and family, were all determined to have a good time and support each other. This took many different forms, including as a supplier of Magnum’s (not the ice cream for the uninitiated) as well as playing several instruments in more than one band…This all served to help make the evening a roaring success. There was absolutely no standing on ceremony, no polite applause for support bands with everyone awaiting the headliners. The atmosphere was electric from the off. This was pure unadulterated raw and raucous fun with a capital F.U.N. It’s hard to pick out highlights from the sets or pick a favourite band. They all had their own merits and each played as if their lives depended on it, totally invested in what they do. The heat of the venue, mixed with band members body slamming in the pit, led to a plethora of West of Scotland pasty white flesh on show while Club Dumm provided us with the first Stooges cover of the evening in the form of Search and Destroy. On the subject of covers The Crails kicked off their set with a dramatic slowed down cover of Blondie’s Call Me. Possibly the only slow moment of the night. Much kudos to all three bands.
I think it goes without saying, the crowd was suitably warmed up, and let’s say, suitably refreshed by the time The Kidney Flowers took to the stage. Grant, Abigail and Tog meant business having changed into their matching black boiler suits ready for the onslaught. The only opportunities to compose yourself came in the brief moments of respite between songs as Grant did some brief introductions, or paused to open a well deserved Leffe. It felt like the venue had a constant beating heart throughout the night, the mass of heaving, sweating bodies only pausing between bands for some fresh air or refuelling.
I maintained my position stage right just safely out of reach of the pit. Early on deciding I was too old, and unfit, to join in the shenanigans, vicariously enjoying the fun through their enjoyment. It certainly had an impact, reminding me what it was like to be young and fit at a gig!
The triumphant trio went straight into high gear with Kissed a Policeman, “a true story” stating Grant, as the powerful scuzzy garage rockers hit their stride, Abigail centre stage standing behind her trademark dual drums, creating a thunderous energy, sticks blurring in my eye line, Tog keeping time with quick fingers, as the fury of Grant’s searing guitar matched the intense heat of the venue. The band were clearly feeding off the energy of the crowd, at one point Grant joking that they’d be done by half ten… “that was the fastest we’ve ever played that one”, but fortunately for the crowd, the band filled their allotted time with what felt like a million songs all played at a million miles an hour, leaving me breathless despite not playing in the band or joining in the mayhem of the pit.
The second Stooges song of the night came in the form of I Wanna Be Your Dog, packed with a primal energy matched by the chaotic reaction in the pit. There was still time for a handful of tracks from Burn Your Furniture and a glorious blast of Underneath Her Thumb, before the tumultuous set came to a close with recent single, Laces. I’m sure there will have been a few bruises and sore heads the morning after, but I’m equally sure they’ll have been worn like badges of pride after such a triumphant night of effervescent pandemonium.
That is how you launch an album!
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