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In an age where dullards like Kasabian and the Libertines are somehow lauded as being "dangerous", it's a mystery why three albums into their career, the national music press still hasn't really picked up on McLusky. Possibly because the public schoolboy types at NME, despite their posturing, would run a mile screaming if a genuinely dangerous band came anywhere near them. Ah well...
Starting off proceedings tonight, US alt-rockers Modey Lemon are an average slice of Pixies style alt-rock which fails to really excite or inspire. It kind of begs the question also as to why you'd want to tread the same boards Frank Black and co were treading far more convincingly some fifteen years ago.
They're comprehensively blown off by tonight's headliners as McLusky crash straight in with a ferocious rendition of "Lightsaber Cocksucking Blues" and the Well goes comprehensively nuts. Mixing old favourites ("What We've Learned", the superb "Alan Is A Cowboy Killer") with some equally unhinged newies such as last single "She Will Only Bring You Happiness", this is the sound of a band on the edge who seemingly don't give a shit about current trends and all power to them for that. They may look like three gumbies from the South Wales backwaters but McLusky posess a wit, charisma and insight (not to mention a top drawer way with tunes and riffs) sadly lacking in a lot of their "trendy" counterparts.
Two words - fuck cool. When you've got this sort of tunes and attitude, it simply shows up smackhead chic and leather jackets for the utter bullshit that they are.
Review by Andy James
