Pretty Girls Make Graves @ Joseph's Well
By Ben PartridgeThis a belated review, for the simple fact I have been away in Edinburgh, breathing in clean Lothian air and sampling many types of whiskey since Tuesday, and amidst my general binging found no time to write the piece coherently.
I do believe that I walked into the Well about two songs into Fifth Goodbye's set, and I proceeded to stand in the centre of the room, surrounded by a crowd who seemed uninterested and profoundly lacking any sense of excitement. Yes, this was the opening act, but considering that Fifth Goodbye seemed equally as bored, it's not unfair to say that their supposedly emotional punk-rock isn't inspiring and didn't tease a reaction from either the audience or from me. Proficient, accomplished musicians, with lovely guitar tones and melodies, but without a convincing delivery, Fifth Goodbye can sing and scream and shout, but mostly at the same time and only barely in tune. Unfortunately for them, obscuring words and any attempted harmonies makes the distinctions between each song very difficult. Similarly, whether it is deliberate or not, Fifth Goodbye definitely take their cue from ...And none of them knew they were Robots and the like, and the overwhelming indication of this influence in their music is a blemish upon any originality. Considering that this band has been playing live and recording for nearly two years, I expected to see an individual, finely honed and dazzling display of guitar driven ingenuity, but regrettably I didn't. People do like this band though, and the faithful faction at the front of the room certainly won't be put off by what was probably in fairness, a show made bad by nerves.
Last time Pretty Girls Make Graves came to Leeds, they brought with them a band that in terms of performance and musical direction, courageously and defiantly kick the shit out of any contenders in alternative guitar music whilst simultaneously making your ears bleed. Read Yellow however, demonstrate their wit in name choice only, and present a fairly derivative form of alternative music, ultimately failing to fan the flames of a barely smouldering atmosphere in Josephs Well. Three guys and one girl, it was a haze, a cacophony of sounds and texture, and a repetitive delivery that became quite over-bearing. I am in favour of instrumental and experimental music of all kinds, but when people try to write songs as well as providing sonic adventures, only Mogwai and Pink Floyd have ever got it right. Read Yellow weren't refined enough, and instead of controlled mess, all we got was noise accompanying a dismal and disorientated rhythm section. The cynic in me reflects upon the choice of support by PGMG as maybe a subtle method of ensuring that this time round they wont nearly be shown up by a band as good as Blood Brothers. Maybe last year was a better gig...
Now, when Josephs Well is full to the brim, and people are being turned away at the entrance, if you combine that with a long wait for a headline set, coupled with two mediocre support acts, the amount of tension and anticipation reaches fever pitch. Andrea Zollo, entering from the fire exit at the back of the room, ascended the stage with a beaming smile and a glint in her eye, and it certainly seemed to rouse the crowd into giving an equally happy response. My friend's remark that she looks like a small Kelly Osbourne, however I have to say that these comments do not promote any musical comparisons between the two.
PGMG have a wealth of tracks to choose from after releasing one EP and two LP's, and I had thought that this tour would be used primarily to promote their latest recording 'The New Romance'. I was frustrated to find that the bulk of the set was taken from the first full length album, 'Good Health'. This may be a testament to the fact that the new album isn't necessarily as listenable or well-crafted as the predecessor, even though the first single to be released, 'This is Our Emergency' drew delight from the crowd and was, indeed, irresistibly good live. Still, as visual act, PGMG remain amazing. Guitarist JJ arches and skips between his floor pedals and a keyboard synth, reaching for the mic when needed. As ever, the drums and bass hold the sweet melee together with inexorable vigour and underpin each song superbly. Les Savvy Fav guitar player Seth was standing in on this tour for missing regular Nathan, and for most of the set he hid behind the left hand PA stack. However, the cohesion of the band wasn't spoiled by this shy guest, and crowd favourites '3 Away' and 'Speaker Push the Air' were hammered home beautifully.
As a band, PGMG have always impressed me, both live and on tape. I love the melodic prowess and textural depth provided by the interaction between guitar parts and rhythmic patterns. Zollo's vocals have matured and never falter, and her vocal lines are cushioned by a warm, invigorating sound that most bands would find hard to perfect, even at their zenith.
My only gripe comes with the choice of songs and the difficult feeling that PGMG aren't going anywhere new. It was disappointing to come away from the gig sensing that the freshness and vitality of 'Good Health' hasn't translated or progressed into anything better, especially when PGMG have the talent to prove themselves both popular and innovative.
