Econoline are new to me, and from their first song I was ready to label them with the likes of Karate and Fugazi, but by the end of their set their mix of melody and standard punky/ grunge seemed to have more in common with Dinosaur Jr and Swervedriver. I wouldn't be surprised if they have 'Son of Mustang Ford' in the collection. I don't much about them, though they had one track on a recent Fierce Panda compilation which is worth checking out.
I heard some rave reviews of Enon's show in Belfast and I was maybe expecting too much from them, as I found them really disappointing. Not a million miles away from the screwy punk and funk mixture of Brainiac (Enon feature Brainiac's former guitarist/ keyboardist) I can see why they would be entertaining on a good night. The singer seems a bit jaded as it's the end of the tour and his Beck-isms don't quite come off. Then he suggests the audience is even less enthusiastic than the Germans (which is met with near silence and a few boos!), and from they may as well have packed up and gone home.
However, everyone is here to see Les Savy Fav, whose reputation is starting to precede them. Word of mouth of their previous shows has done them a world of good, and this was gig of the day in Metro, London's free morning paper. They don't let anyone down, in fact they're on fantastic. Not only are they armed with some fine new tunes from the current album 'Go Forth', they have one of the most energetic 'frontmen' around, the impressively bearded Tim Harrington.
From the moment they come on (and he manages to wedge his mikestand into the overhanging ceiling) he holds our entire attention. Clearly a firm believer in taking the show to the crowd, he delights in climbing all over the place, assisted at one point by a stepladder (!), and by the end of the gig he has actually managed to do vocals for one song from on top of the bar. Which, if you know this venue, is quite impressive!
As for the music, it has to be said that they have improved since I saw them in February. The almost constant touring has paid off, and the material is more familiar to me this time, which always helps. Although they get saddled with the Emo tag, they seem to be picking up a wide range of fans, and there's no reason why they can't follow the likes of Trail of Dead and keep getting bigger. Go and see them next time!!
LES
SAVY FAV
Belfast Auntie Annies 17th February 2001
Nearly a year since I saw
a gig in Belfast - hard to believe!
Anyway, I've timed it well this time as I wasn't able to get to Les Savy Fav's
London show (at 93 Feet East). This Belfast show wasn't as well attended but
there was still enough of a crowd for Les Savy Fav to get up to some mischief.
The singer/ frontman is a deadringer for the guy who used to front the Dischord
act Lungfish, although I'm assured it's not him - actually when he stands on
the table in front of us this is confirmed as he doesn't have as many tattoos
as the Lungfish guy! It's also not him because he's having too much fun, climbing
all over the venue, walking along the bar, bouncing from table to table - particularly
focusing his attention on the people who aren't interested in the gig and are
only there for the club afterwards.
Out of all their various releases (on many different labels) I've only heard
'Rome (Written Upside Down)' and they play some of it tonight, as well as some
new material. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by Les Savy Fav, clearly
their main influences come from Pere Ubu circa 'The Modern Dance' and other
spiky no-wavers. Recent comparisons have suggested that they're close to what
At the Drive-In are doing , and while the vocals and occasionally incomprehensible
lyrics hold up to that comparison, the music is angular and less straightforward
than that of the boys from El Paso.
An entertaining performance, and one that makes me eager to check out more of
their material.
