How often does it happen, Water Machine & Brenda, two of the best new bands in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK, Europe, nay, strike all that, make that two of the best new bands in the WORLD both playing celebratory sets on the same day, in the same city, both FREE and at separate locations – and what’s more, I could get to them both! Mind you it would be difficult for them to play simultaneously due to one common denominator… more of that later.
Brenda
Hot off the heels of their triumphant album launch in The Glad Café, and a spot at the Lost Map Howlin’ Fling on Eigg (I didn’t make it, but my tent did…), Brenda continued their celebrations of the release of a truly remarkable album at a packed-out George Square. OK, I jest, they performed their glorious set to a small but perfectly formed smattering of hardcore Brenda fans, alongside some strange people dressed in a teddy bear/pyjamas get up, and those just chilling over a few pints in the Square.
Stepping away from talking about Brenda for one moment, to whoever pulled together the line-ups for the gigs in George Square, kudos, there was a host of inspired choices, but, and that’s a big but(t) (to return to the Brenda references for a second…), to whoever was in charge of promoting these live sets, their report card should be marked down as “could do better”. The only real promotion I saw was from the bands themselves posting on their socials, and as for the listings on the internet? Embarrassing. It was like someone had deliberately made them nigh on impossible to search for… I know it is a cycling event and not a music festival, but if you’re going to put on a wheen of top-quality impressive bands, there could have been more effort made in their promotion…instead of the sum total of fuck all.
Ok, got that off my chest.
Did the smattering of people around George Square put the band off? Absolutely not, in fact Flore was so eager to go, the band launched into their opening number Pigs before the MC even got a chance to announce their arrival. Or maybe she was feeling so shit from the lurgee she just wanted to get through their set as quickly as possible. Whatever the reason, Brenda delivered their set with the same gusto and humour as they always do, even when that meant adapting their self-deprecating (“Do you think I’m obnoxious?”) between song banter to suit younger ears. Take their intro to the S&M themed electro synth groove that is Slave Dad “this one’s about when your dad cleans your room instead of your Mum.” They even managed to get in on the cycling theme by playing their non-album song “Cycle Path” (say it quickly aloud…).
As with their counterparts who I witnessed later in the evening, Brenda are one of those bands you cannot help but smile along to, the combination of their infectious Korg synth-driven tunes, mixed with their sparking personalities and often dead pan quick fire banter making them an alluring and utterly engaging proposition, impossible to ignore. Of course, all the “hits” got an airing, Microscopic Babe, High Horse and Cease and Desist all evidence that this trio have got what it takes. The band closed their all too short set with their self-professed “banger” Radiation, a song that resulted from, in their words “too much adult sugar.” This trio and their heaven-sent three-part harmonies deserve to be huge and playing to a packed full George Square. Shame on the organisers for letting these bands down.
Brenda Facebook
Pictish Trail and the gobsmackingly good Walt Disco were to follow later, and indie legends The Yummy Fur were playing in the West End, but for me, the only place to be was Mono, for the incredible Water Machine and the launch of their Monorail special edition Raw Liquid Power vinyl EP.
Water Machine
For a band who always bring the party atmosphere, tonight they notched things up a few levels. If you’ve ever seen a Water Machine gig, you’ll know the band decide on a “theme” for every gig. In true celebratory style, the theme for the Monorail EP launch was Office Party and party was exactly what they planned to do, even poor Flore who was now really suffering but still managed to crack jokes and smile throughout what was the second gig of the day for her. Bedecked in office gear and party hats, the band kicked off their incendiary set in style, with the first of their self-titled songs, the second of these Water Machine Pt II following later. Water Machine have really started to ignite people’s imagination, with a steadfast and dedicated nucleus of fans growing with each new song and release and with each gig they play. The party wasn’t just for the band though, Hando revelling in the fact there were people dancing right at the back of the room, and recognising someone “you’re that fortune teller…is tonight going to be a good gig?” (Foregone conclusion I would wager…) before chucking a selection of party blowers and party poppers into the crowd.
I was already in fine fettle after seeing Brenda earlier in the evening, but witnessing the pure, almost childlike ecstasy on Hando’s face as they bantered with the crowd was a joy to behold. The band were on fire too, synchronising in perfect unison, Jimmy’s guitar sounding better than ever, the spellbinding nature of their sheer enjoyment emanating from the stage influencing everyone attendance, all fully immersed in their performance having dived in headfirst without first dipping a toe in.
The band’s off-kilter leftfield indie/punk is a treat for the eardrums, ranging from quirky to sublime, from offbeat and eccentric to downright exquisite, with guitars that insert a combination of first wave of punk meets Postcard era sunshine jangle into the discordant and abrasive post punk riffs, blending perfectly with Hando’s violin, Flore’s frantic bouncing basslines and topped off with plenty of cowbell. What’s not to love? All of the superb songs on the Raw Liquid Power EP got an airing, the aforementioned banger of a single Water Machine Pt II with Hando’s demanding chant “don’t be late, hydrate”, a voyage of discovery for Nicky, finding out Stilettos is a song about cats following you home, while Hando was not for holding back their vehement ire about the transport system fucking things up for them on Busy and, of course, At The Drive In demanded a crowd singalong. A triumphant night for the Machine.
This was to be the last gig in Glasgow from Water Machine until November, but don’t let my personal disappointment in having to wait so long for a fix of the band (to coin a phrase, I can never get enough Water (Machine)), bring you down, as Water Machine take to the road for a tour in September before returning to lay down some more tracks… The future is bright, the future is hydration, the future is Raw Liquid Power. All Hail Water Machine!
Water Machine bandcamp