Live Review: Yuck – The Joiners Arms, Southampton 17/02/2011

Yuck may be the buzz band of 2011, but they are a godsend for anyone still stuck in the year punk broke. The band’s self-titled debut is littered with references to the cream of the class of ’91. The sad, sedentary vocal delivery and the melodic guitar lines that litter Holing Out and Get Away are pure J. Mascis and they have a mini-Teen Age Riot in the urgent riff-o-rama, Operation. Elsewhere on the album, lush, languid, lo-fi ballads such as Suck and Suicide Policeman recall Pavement’s most tender moments.

But unfortunately for Southampton, none of the above is to be witnessed live tonight. All thanks (allegedly) to a blowtorch left on all day in the Chinese restaurant adjacent to the Joiners Arms, which caused noxious fumes to filter into the building while local support band Dead Rabbits were soundchecking. The fire brigade arrived, the police cordoned off the pub, and the disgruntled punters reluctantly piled into the nearby Plume and Feather, all hoping that they would be allowed back in to their much-loved locale before the night grew too old.

Certain excited members of the amassed crowd began liaising with members of Yuck and their tour support Fanzine, and a plan was hatched. The idea was to transport the band with their equipment to the nearby Soul Cellar venue, where they could set-up and play. This idea was run past Yuck’s tour manager who curtly declined the offer, as the gig had to be official due to contractual reasons. It’s best not to argue with tired tour managers, and this one was no exception, not least because he seemed to have, rather implausibly, two glass eyes. So, it was to be Joiners or nothing. But, at 10.30pm it was officially announced by the now very weary and stressed tour manager that the gig was off.

Since then, it has been announced that the gig will be rescheduled and it has been confirmed by the Southampton Guildhall Box Office that anyone who can’t attend the new date can get a full refund.

During sound check on the 17th, before the drama unfurled, Yuck’s otherwise charming drummer, Jonny Rogoff was overheard sneering: “Southampton has no real Rock ‘n Roll scene”. Let’s hope that the sheer optimism, dedication and passion displayed by the sizeable crowd who braved the bitter cold (and St. Mary’s Street) that night in the name of Rock and Roll has changed his mind.

Album Review: The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant

Two generations of sulky northern mastery collide on the latest long-player from The Cribs.

The stately Cheat On Me is the first track on which the addition of Johnny Marr is really apparent. His guitar is always glassy and needle-sharp, weaving a way through the track, creating a separate melody but never overplaying or sounding out of place against the barrelling bar chords. But most importantly they have created a classic football chant with the chorus. It’s only a matter of time before the terraces are echoing with “That’s another!” as their team put away multiple goals. Although I imagine, this is almost certainly not the effect the band were aiming for.

It seems like Marr has slotted in very nicely to his new gang, refining and enriching the sound, he is the ingredient you didn’t know was missing until now. Far from being watered down or neutered, Ignore The Ignorant is given depth and dimension by the elder musical statesmen, his guitar playing elegant and ethereal next to the Jarman brother’s stroppy, brat-punk riffs. Although there is little doubt that the crystalline chime of Last Year’s Snow and Save Your Secrets could see this cult band garner more mainstream appeal, it is clear upon hearing the latter’s opening lines “You are far more likely to be devoured/than empowered by your sense of romance” that we are still a long way from generic, charmless enorm-o-dome territory. Those devoted disciples concerned that The Cribs have mellowed or matured a bit too much need not fret, We Were Aborted and Nothing both spit and sizzle with the same trademark energy of old and Ryan Jarman delivers the chorus to Hari Kari with the urgency of a neurotic dalek .

One thing is for sure, The Cribs have managed to progress in a very satisfying musical direction whilst also retaining their unique ability to make the listener instinctively reach for the play button as soon as the final track fades.