Pretty Girls Make Graves, Leeds Josephs Well
It’s a wet Monday night, it’s Leeds, it must be Josephs Well for another cracking gig. And you’d be right. Another train journey across Yorkshire found me traipsing towards the mighty ‘Well to see the even mightier Pretty Girls Make Graves on their UK tour, stopping in this ‘fair’ (ahem) city for one night and one night only.
The main reason I was there because Brad from FIFTHGOODBYE was kind enough to stick me on the guest list and eager for me to review his bands triumphant support slot. Unfortunately, I actually missed the first couple of songs by the band, but I walked down the steps to see a hugely confident group of guys rocking out on the stage in front of me. I’ve got to admit, the mp3’s I had heard were weak and didn’t really leave me expecting much from the band, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the band’s live show as, with a little help from the fantastic sound, they knocked out one chunky emo-tinged rock number after another. Sounding a little like a faster, meatier My Awesome Compilation, the band whipped the nearly full room of excited punters into something resembling a murmur, which, for the ‘Well when there’s a support band playing, is like the whole of Wembley suddenly chanting your name in unison. Still, when you’ve spent 7 hours doing your hair, you can’t get too excited can you? Certainly a band to watch out for, If they can write their ‘killer track’ then they could see themselves climbing the rungs of the UK music scene next year. (7)
I then vacated the gigging area for the comforts of the pub section, delighting in the totally random company there that night, and swallowing a couple of pints of Fosters and/or Snakebite in the process. When I did go back to the gig area, I caught the last couple of songs by PGMG tour buddies READ YELLOW. I wasn’t too bothered about them beforehand as I had no idea who they were and was more concerned with beer than rock at that moment, but maybe I should have taken notice. Similar in style and execution to PGMG, they belted out some electric rock tunes with a style and verve that is often lacking in today’s shoe-gazing music scene. If only I’d seen more … (7)
Then it was time for one of my favourite bands at the moment, PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES, who, in ‘Good Health’ and ‘The New Romance’ have two enormously underrated albums in the past couple of years, and in Andrea Zollo, they have a sleek, sexy and downright wonderful front woman, the kind of vocalist who, despite her diminutive frame, demands the attention of the crowd. The provocative ‘Blue Lights’ begins proceedings, with Zollo purring over the music being produced by the highly talented foursome behind her and from then on, it’s avant-garde synth rock greatness all the way. PGMG are one of those rare bands that combine immense musical talent and innovation with enjoyable music, sidestepping the imminent ‘Head Up Arse’ syndrome and instead writing luscious landscapes of melody that engage the listener from start to finish. ‘This Is Our Emergency’, ‘Speakers Push The Air’ and ‘All Medicated Geniuses’ are particular highlights before the encore arrives in the shape of the driving title track from their new record, ‘The New Romance’ and arguably their best song to date, ‘If You Hate Your Friends Youre Not Alone’, which while still fantastic, seems a tad laboured tonight. Still, Pretty Girls… are easily one of the rising stars of the music world, and despite being picked up by the nauseatingly fashion conscious scenesters, (all 50 quid haircuts, suit jackets and an inflated sense of self importance) they are impossible to resist. They play music that is impossible to listen to and actually stand still, and for that, I salute them! (8.5)
The night was then topped off by a random stay in Leeds which has nowe left me with a stinking cold, but hell, it’s worth it! An evening of top quality music and more hairspray than an entire series of the Salon.
Ross
Options:»
Gig Reviews Index
