Jarcrew @ Joseph's Well
By Tom Goodhand
Wrathstonbury is, believe it or not, one of the most important dates on Leeds' live music diary. Eighteen bands compete with beer for your attention. And even when it all finishes at 1:30, some eleven hours after it all began, everyone leaves wishing there was some more.
The Secret Hairdresser are the first band I shall mention, but that doesn't mean they were the first to impress. Their new wave pop was all infectious melodies, keyboards are daft vocals (such as the highly entertaining 'meowing' in 'Verse Chorus Meow'). Note to other bands, meows aren't used enough in pop. Sort it out.
Some of the guys behind The Scaramanga Six are also the geniuses behind Wrath Records. It comes as no surprise their distortion-driven pop is absolutely brilliant and that they are the first band to really get the crowd going. Latest single, 'Pincers' was undeniably brilliant and if there is a God, would have been a number one, It's slow crooned bit switching to fast screamed bit and back again keeps playing with your expectations are leaving you very happy.
ˇForward, Russia! are still very much new kids on the block, but every time they play their angular post-rock gets better and better. The guitars and synths squeal some more, the drums and bass pound heavier, and frontman Tom becomes even more captivating.
If brilliant riffs and fun shouty vocals are your thing, then so should be The Young Knives. They sound like a brilliant pop band getting into a fight with The Stooges, and of course, The Stooges win.
If sophistication is what you are looking for, you can't go wrong with Galitza, for their sound is noise pop of the highest degree. Three-way vocals, masses of noise and excellent tunes all combine together to smother you in noise, but for once, getting smothered is lots of fun.
In my book, three cool things for rock bands to do are: use moogs, use air raid sirens and sing songs about NHS Online. Being 747 do all these things, and I fall in love. Plus, they have some great upbeat, beautifully song indiesh punk songs, and are therefore, utterly, utterly, marvellous.
This Et Al still have some work to do on that live show, I'm afraid. Although on record, they sound like a missing link between Queens Of The Stone Age and Muse, live unfortunately various technical problems means that their sound can never recreate the hugeness of their recorded output. Still give them time and they could be utterly brilliant.
Duels were signed to Island once, you know, They're not anymore, but it's easy to see why they were. They make that garagey rock sound that became massive last year, and then stick some Blur-esque tunes over the top. It all comes across as a little calculated and not particularly original. Shame.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Jarcrew will probably never get a deal at a major label, and probably aren't looking for one either. They sound like an emo band's older, cleverer, better read cousin. The vocals may hint at self-loathing, and the guitars may be a bit punkish, but they also have so much more to offer. The staccato rhythms and general air of chaos makes Jarcrew quite exceptional.
Thus, the night closes, proving that great tunes + loads of noise + passionate vocals = brilliance. It's not a revolutionary statement, but it's one that more bands should pay heed to.
