Music > Live Reviews

Sleaford Mods

The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA

09/11/17

When I first heard Sleaford Mods all the way back in the mists of 2014 (odd that they are still such a ‘new’ phenomenon) it made me feel a bit like I felt the first time I saw a porn mag back in my youth – excited, a bit nervous but certain that this was something I was going to like. A trip to the Portland Arms in Cambridge a few months later sealed the deal for me, listening to them was one thing, but seeing them? Next level. Now, over two years since they last played Norwich, there was a palpable sense of anticipation that they were finally back to show us how it’s done.

First up we had Nachthexen, an all-female four piece from Sheffield playing impressive feminist electro punk, and signed to Harbinger, the Mods’ old label. I enjoyed their non-performance style and lack of guitar. Yes their sound is a tad one dimensional, but it was hard not to get my early evening nod on to tracks like Drunk Lads, Fuck The Diet and Cheer Up Luv. Entertainingly bleak.

First thing I noticed about Sleaford Mods stage set up is Andrew Fearn’s laptop was perched on top of a flight case, not the usual crates – success having obviously gone to their heads, the flash bastards. Strolling on to the strains of Male Stripper they began the show with I Feel So Wrong – comfortably my least favourite song on the new album. The fact that it sounded great allayed any lingering fears I may have had about how good the show was going to be. Much has been written about Jason Williamson as a performer, but it’s worth emphasising that there is no-one, and has never been anyone, quite like him. Fierce, passionate, articulate, rage filled yet curiously low key and humble between songs, seeing him perform just a few feet away is truly astonishing. The sheer physical demands have resulted in him giving up the drink and keeping himself in shape - there’s no other way you could do this every night.

Jason appears to have reigned in some of his tics, but added even more mincing about and ape moves into his repertoire – laugh out loud funny. Let’s not forget Andrew though, whenever you look over at him he is fully into it, grooving, grinning, bantering – he really is the perfect foil. Songs-wise the set was heavily weighted in favour of new album English Tapas, everything elevated by the performance, the stark beats blasting out of the P.A. Snout and Moptop were early highlights, but it was around the halfway point with TCR that the gig began to shift from good to truly great. Routine Dean and Jolly Fucker sounded as vicious as the first time I heard them and BHS gave everyone the chance to really stretch their vocal chords. The final three song encore of Jobseeker, Tied Up In Nottz and Tweet Tweet Tweet were incredible – true genius, and the packed LCR bayed their appreciation at the end.

There are many older songs they are not currently playing, and a Mods gig without Fizzy or McFlurry is always going to leave me feeling a tiny bit sad, but this was still a memorable night watching a unique act who seemed properly pleased with the reception we gave them. Last word has to go to Jason, who explained what type of band they are – “we’re not a punk band, we’re not a fucking punk band, we’re a cruise ship band”. He’s lying, but we love them anyway.