Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But Parent

This is a bit late, I was without wifi over Christmas.  I'd love to say this was because I was visiting relatives in far-flung Bogota, or something exciting, but actually the phone line got cut when snipping down ivy.  Happy new year, and that.

MOTHER/ FLAT LAGER, Engage Events, Wheatsheaf, 14/12/19

Bands can spend thousands procuring industry advice on how to conduct themselves, from stage presentation to the minutiae of social media communications, but we will suggest Flat Lager’s approach as a pretty solid one, and won’t even send you an invoice: bundle onstage looking like a dog’s dinner that even the dog has turned its nose up at, wear a T-shirt reading simply “EAT SHIT”, and dive straight into a punky bunfight of a track which is basically “Louie Louie”.  The band’s take on grin-wearing garagey punk includes some almost funky drums, and jerky switches that they don’t always hit, but which work all the same, so that they mostly resemble EMF trying to become Fontaines DC.  Good solid fun in other words, even if the energy dips in the middle of the set. Our band brand consultancy would further advise them to go offstage having leapt about whilst nicking “I Wanna Be Your Dog”...but seems they’ve worked that out themselves.

Mother have also thought about their presentation, coming onto a dark stage lit by two long and slightly wobbly looking tube lights, possibly left over from the time Blue Peter taught us how to recreate Luc Besson’s Subway. Still, the set dressing is the only negative in 45 minutes of lovely, taut, serrated rock.  Each song seems to leap off the stage like a spawn-hungry salmon flinging itself up a waterfall, vocal melodies engaging and straightforward, like those of vintage Ride, and the music concrete-heavy but light on its feet.  The rhythm section, featuring Easter Island Statues and Max Blansjaar drummer Thomas Hitch, is incredibly powerful, bringing a supple groove to the songs – imagine Big Audio Dynamite or Tackhead with the hip hop dialled down and Jimmy Page riffs filling the gaps.  There are perhaps moments when the vocals could have a little more character, but this is music of heft and texture, rather than pop storytelling, so it’s no biggy (and, if in doubt, bring out a megaphone).  Mother have already come on impressively since we saw them 6 months ago, and a brand new song is tonight’s highpoint, so it’s not too hard to imagine them as serious contenders in 2020.  Screw the brand, let’s make some noise.