Throats
Pav Tav, Brighton
29 June 2010

The South coast’s very own Let’s Talk Daggers open tonight’s show in fittingly frenzied style, battling with the Pav Tav’s often patchy sound system in an attempt to leave an impact on the punters who’ve assembled for this jam-packed bill. LTD are a phenomenal live band on their day, but tonight doesn’t see them at their best; the trio constantly tread the line between white knuckle brilliance and indecipherable noise, and this set sees them fall into the negative side of the equation at times. That said, I’d rather watch this lot on an off day than a lot of any other new bands on any day…

Things improve for the evening’s second band, the confusingly monikered James Cleaver Quintet, who produce an impressive performance. Not that that’ll be any surprise to those who’ve caught the band’s madcap live show before, limbs, spit, sweat, and guitars flying all over the place, the band’s commendable disregard for personal safety making for a great spectacle. They have the substance to back up the deranged style, new single ‘Chicken Shit (For The Soul)’ providing a good example of their off kilter, yet somehow ear friendly, punk assault. In an ideal world the four-piece (yes, four-piece) would be cheerfully sodomising radio 1’s A-list by now, but as it is, The JCQ, and their live show, are not to be missed.

It’s fair to say that Lavotchkin might not remember tonight’s show for the right reasons. Despite putting every ounce of their blood, sweat and tears into their performance, the Geordie hardcore mob have to face the frustration of a painfully swampy mix, taking away much of the band’s bite and definition. Nevertheless, the guys persevere, vocalist Simon Tittley responding to their PA problems by simply bellowing louder, while Paul Hawdon on the drums makes the best of a difficult situation by following suit. Their EP ‘Widow Country’ is a real, abrasive gem, and it’s a shame that they’re let down by something as fundamental as a sound system this evening. Still a memorably heart-on-sleeve, intense showing.

By the time that Throats hit the stage, the temperature inside the Pav Tav is ridiculously high. Something that’s not helped much by the presence of Throats, a band who take ‘playing loud’ to a whole new dimension. You can feel your ear canals being roasted (even using earplugs) as they treat those courageous/foolhardy enough to remain, their blistering cocktail of grindcore, punk, and sludge requiring a strong constitution to withstand (to be fair, the heat figures large in this). Few bands around at the moment can top this lot’s capacity to discomfort (that’s a compliment), especially in a live setting, and fans of un-easy listening around the UK need to familiarise themselves. My ears are still ringing.

Review by Rob Sayce