Picture by Dom Sztyber
First on Plug’s main stage were a local group, named Paddy Orange( ♥ ♥ ), that gave a disappointing performance. Their songs were repetitive and they failed to excite the audience with white boy rapping and bongo drums. The lead singer seemed unable to afford a decent belt. Every time he turned the audience got a nice flash of sweaty crack. Their one redeeming feature was the supporting vocalist who had a powerful, soulful voice. She was a good distraction from the monotony as she happened to have great legs and reminded me of a fitter version of Steph Dean from Hollyoaks.
Then a complete contrast with Screaming Tea Party ( ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ) and an outstanding performance from this crazy Japanese trio. At first I was unsure what to expect when I saw the guitarist wearing a gas mask but I was pleasantly surprised. As he proceeded to violently shake it off only for half his face to be obscured by a fringe that went down to his nose and a purple scarf that covered the rest. The nutter also stripped to his pants in the final break down and screamed for a while into a mic.
The music itself is all about noise rock. It’s simple stuff but that’s what makes so appealing. The lyrics are are very enjoyable and basic, “I’m playing my guitar” stands out from the song lets do not say another word, which actually sounds like the intro to “I Found Out” by the Pigeon Detectives. You can also pick up on a strong Sonic Youth influence throughout the set. The female drummer lent her vocals occasionally with her regional Japanese twang adding a bit more depth. Screaming Tea Party pretty much does what it says on the tin and the songs really want to make you thrash around and lose yourself completely.
By the time The Go! Team ( ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ) hit the stage Plug is busy and host to a very mixed crowd, demonstrating the bands broad appeal. The set was a mix of pleasing old stuff and new tunes off the second album Proof of Youth. There was plenty of audience participation with Ninja getting the audience fired up in a jolly mood. For Huddle Formation she split everyone down the middle getting each half to sing a different line after helping teaching the lines parrot fashion.
Ninja was also sporting a very sexy PE kit style outfit. Quite fitting as she busted out her famous energetic dance moves. The Team take you up, up and up with all their songs. Cheerful vocals, cute samples and buckets of funk. Highlights of the gig have to include Ladyflash and Grip Like A Vice. Immense. I was also inspired and impressed by how talented they are. Everyone in the band has multiple roles. It was hard to track but for nearly every song there was a quick swap. You had a singer on drums, drummer on guitar, bass on harmonica, guitar on glockenspiel then a banjo, drummer on lead vocals then another guitarist. And there was plenty more inter changing taking place.
Go! also use my now favourite instrument the melodica. The night just could not be ruined, not by broken strings, poor support or by a twat off his face who groped my balls and who would have head butted me if weren’t for my cat like reflexes. By the end I felt energised and drugged up on happiness so much so that I wanted to skip home, but the world just wasn’t ready.
By Dom Sztyber
