Music > Live Reviews

Ducking Punches/Horse Party@ OPEN & NAC

15/06/15

So, two of my favourite acts are playing at different venues on the same night. The sensible thing to do would be to pick one gig and stick with that. Cobblers to that. Ducking Punches and Horse Party are playing at different times and NAC and OPEN are only a few minutes apart...

At OPEN, Will Cornish starts proceedings with a solo acoustic set. Mixing the vocals of The Alarm’s Mike Peters and the guitar of Michael Chapman, this is nowt original but Cornish offers well-played, quality songs. (7/10)

Trio Perfect Mistakes play tight heavy rock with a busy drummer, like Screamager-period Therapy? It ain’t bad but it’s not my thing. (5/10)

Down to NAC for the grungy metal of Wreck Age. It's like the 21st century - and most of the '90s for that matter - hasn't happened but fun and it is good to see a proper, strutting rawk frontman work a crowd. (7/10)

Grunge revivalists Mire are in thrall to Cobain's noisier emissions and would have fitted in well in early 90s Seattle. Thankfully, the songs take this above a by-numbers Incesticide rehash. (7/10)

A quick walk back to OPEN in time for Horse Party. With a timeless but individual sound, taking in everything from Fleetwood Mac to Sleater-Kinney, Horse Party have had me in their thrall since the very first time I saw 'em, at this very venue. Ellie, Seymour and Shannon have always been a cut or two above most but expanding to a foursome with the addition of bassist George has taken this to another level. (10/10)

Few bands could follow that but Ducking Punches make a fine fist of it with their folk-punk/punk-folk, mixing songs from Dance Before You Sleep and stuff from a soon-to-be-recorded Pledge funded album. Some extended gaps reduce the intensity but this is bloody good stuff none-the-less. (9/10)

Apologies to Happy Coloured Marbles and Marla but I couldn't see every act at the two venues.