If I was going to summarise this evening it’s shambolic but enjoyable. It seems to be a Tubs and friends show with mates and former bandmates providing the support tonight. Set times went out the window and it was a case of we’ll come on when we are good and ready.
I will skip over the two support acts who were instantly forgettable for me but as the hour hits ten The Tubs some of which have moonlighted in the other bands come on to a great reception of this sold out show.
With just a single album behind them, this year’s excellent ‘Dead Meat’ the show was going to be inevitably short clocking in at around 45 minutes. There’s a couple of new songs that more than hold their own and they are joined on stage for a few songs by the stunning Lan McArdle on vocals.
It’s an excellent set of spiky guitars and in Owen “O” Williams they have an enigmatic front man whose voice is reminiscent of a young Richard Thompson. It does feel at times that we have gate crashed a friends party and there’s a band playing in the back room. There’s a lot of banter both on stage and off but it’s still the music that comes to the fore.
Highlights for me included ‘I don’t know how it works’ and ‘Going round the bend’ and they are definitely a must see next time they play as chaotic as it was. Let’s just say this wasn’t a slick pop production like I am guessing Madonna’s current show is and it was all the better for it. The live experience is all about spontaneity and not a pre-programmed beige in sound display.
So a short sharp assault of the senses that couldn’t help but leave a smile on your face.
Keep on folk punk rockin’ y’all