Similar to the previous week in The Hug and Pint, there was most definitely a palpable air of anticipation buzzing around the excellent south side venue ahead of Water Machine’s biggest Glasgow date.
I think I can safely say all three bands on the bill played a blinder, more than exceeding expectations, more like smashing it out of the park for a home run. The job of warming up the Rum Shack fell to I Wanna Be a Truck Driver, a band I’d never seen live before but was introduced to by Stuart, aka photographer Blackmagicplastic, at a previous Water Machine gig. I say they had the job of warming up the crowd, but I’d have to say there wasn’t much warming up required, the responses from punters throughout the venue was enthusiastic and passionate from the off.
For the unacquainted, the band encapsulate the sound of the late eighties/early nineties indie scene. If you melded together the roster of Sarah Records, then took some essential parts from The Flatmates, The Pastels (not just the sound but song themes…Truck, Train, Tractor anyone?) and The Wedding Present and give them a good mix, you’re probably somewhere close. Their songs range from gentle jangly pop through to full on guitar riffing, so much so that Craig “broke” a guitar and drummer Emma did a mini Keith Moon on her drum kit… to paraphrase Craig, “we’re the hardest rocking twee band”. Their set was packed with energy and was a joyous romp, setting up the rest of the night perfectly. I’d recommend checking them out whenever you can, next up they’re supporting Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam in the Hug and Pint as part of their Endless Summer gigs.
With a suitable simmering fizz of excitement around the venue it was the turn of Bikini Body to take to the stage. The last time I was fortunate to witness the band live was when the line up was flipped around and Water Machine were supporting in The Hug and Pint. At that gig I was pretty much blown away by their performance, tonight it felt like the tempo was cranked up a few notches. The spirit and vitality emanating from the stage and in particular from frantically animated frontwoman Vicky was frenetic. Everything was perfect, the intense agit pop/post punk sound, all musicians utterly in sync, Vicky’s vocal delivery and performance including a deliriously berserk foray off stage, limbs and hair flailing wildly, plenty of cowbells (I love a cowbell), and the songs themselves, with their acute social observations and astute lyrics to boot, kicking off with Jazzy Boi before storming through m a blistering set closing with the salvo of the chantalong Daily Mail and magnificent fiesta that is Mr Tinnitus.
By the time Water Machine took to the stage the level of social lubrication, not much water I would wager, had reached suitable heights and the atmosphere was crackling with an electrically charged brio. They say water and electricity should never mix, however in this case, it creates the Raw Liquid Power alluded to on the cover of their latest vinyl release (available to pre-order on Bandcamp incidentally). The band I first dubbed as one of my new favourite bands purely from clips of songs (primarily Hot Real Estate) on socials have gone from strength to strength every time I witness the phenomenon of their live shows.
Taking to the stage in their theme of red and white for the night, Hando with flaming eyebrow face paint and Flore with a star over her right eye, like a cross between Kiss and Bowie, the band kicked off what went on to become a barnstorming championship winning set opening with part one of their “theme” song, Water Machine (lastest single Water Machine Ptll came later). Hando had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands from the very off and never let them go, opening their shirt to cheers when they revealed a title winning boxers belt, and eliciting whoops and hollers later in the set when they removed their long shorts to reveal another shorter pair underneath. Their energy and broad grin revealed just how much they were enjoying the night themselves, bouncing off the lively vivacity of the crowd and their esprit de corps. To be fair the whole band were feeding from the energy of the audience, self effacing bass player Flore with a wide grin on her face throughout, drummer Nicky appearing from behind his drum kit to join Hando stage front and even Jimmy, who always has an air of studied concentration and professionalism on his face while playing, allowed a few wry smiles to creep across his face.
This was definitely the biggest gig I’ve seen the band play to date and the demonstrative show of love in the reaction of the crowd was like one for homecoming heroes. It is heartening to see a band you love receive such a beautiful response, both well deserved and gratefully received.
The set was packed full of all the songs we’ve come to love, so much so that it’s impossible to pick highlights. Of course Hot Real Estate will always hold a place in my heart being the song which initially introduced me to the band. Art Fair was amazing, and yes Flore, you were fine and At the Drive In an incendiary set closer. The real treat of the night came in their two song encore starting off the with the brilliant Blisters before reintroducing a song they’d dropped from their set before I got to see them live, the tribute to Flore’s dog, Pat, a song which already had legendary status now taking its rightful place to close a triumphant set from this tremendous quartet.
If you never get enough water, it’s not too late to start, go invest in some raw liquid power and look out for more to come from this band, they most definitely aren’t standing still.