The Scaramanga Six @ The Vine
By Richard Garnett
Firstly an apology (always a bad way to start I know, but unavoidable), having arrived halfway through their final song, there is little that can be fairly said about Kenosha except they have the right sort of haircuts. Apologies chaps!
It's sticky inside the Headrow's premier venue tonight and it's just under half full, but half full of music fans and that's what counts.
Junk Box take to the stage and launch into their no-nonsense Ramones school of two-guitars, drums and no sh*t lo-fi punk. It's 2 minute song, stop, breath, 2 minute song, stop, breath, etc. Ultimately they play it too cool, the songs are not tight enough and seem just a tad leaden. The "We don't talk to audience's" attitude would work if we cared, but it's not the case. It's sad to say but there is a fair hypothesis that they have only got on because of the novelty of having a female Chinese drummer... who certainly isn't in the band for her imaginative rhythm skills.
Fortunately The Young Knives up the ante and immediately endear themselves with some terrible dancing action, spasmodically leaping about to their off kilter angular punk. "You move really well for a fat lad" says guitarist to bass player with a wry smile, matching the broadening smirks of the crowd. They beat their way through the set, drawing just about everyone in to their cutesy shouty sound. It's one lesson so many bands forget, that watching TYK you can't help but learn: enjoy your own show and others will enjoy it too!
What can be said about The Scaramanga Six that hasn't been said a hundred times already. Wrath Records godfathers of operatic terror rock are surpassed in Leeds by very few. Tonight they furiously rip through their new "it is available but it hasn't actually been released" album Cabin Fever. Fortunately I have a copy and on this live showing it's clear to see why it's already one of my albums of the year. Playing the album literally in order the Six thunder through the auto-biographical "Soul Destroyer", they scream their way through "The Poison Pen" and the extended thrash of "Pincers" is ear bleedingly splendid. "Crab, Crab, Crab" screams Steve Morricone, bursting blood vessels behind the eyes. The pace rarely let's up and before the end we are treated to the first ever live airing of "The Electricity Bill" plus two new tracks. Too good!
