ˇForward, Russia! @ Packhorse
By Mark Casci
After hearing the amazing split 7" from these two Leeds bands I was positively salivating at the prospect of tonight's show. The Packhorse is rammed to the rafters and one gets an indication of just how auspicious an occasion this is when Radio 1 legend Steve Lamacq is spotted quietly entering the venue, with an entourage of pissed up buddies. So busy is it indeed that this reviewer was squeezed in next the speaker stack for the entire duration. The hearing in my left ear has come and gone ever since.
The evening gets off to a poor start. Snow White are everything we didn't want to see tonight. A bunch of posh, public school, fashion victim pussies. All attitude and no trousers. To quote the Guru, "they talk crime but they're scared of jail". Their sub-Biffy Clyro rantings are so contrived and dull that despite the volume I nearly fall asleep. When after mock trashing their instruments at the end of the set (ie. gently laying them down while making a pretense of smashing them), they saunter off moodily before returning to change out of their vests and paint uniform (I'm not making this up) to neatly pack them away in to cases. Yawn Yawn Yawn. See them at a Rotary Club near you in five years time.
This Et Al are very much the real deal. Innovative guitar riffs, passionate playing and above all songs that actually mean something. Sweat pours from the face of the afro haired singer while the drummer's eyes constantly roll back in his head, Ian Curtis like as he crashes out a series of awesome fills. The biggest cheer comes when "He Shoots Presidents" comes crashing in as the set finale. If only the bass player would ditch the waist coat they might rule the world.
However, it cannot be denied that the majority of the audience are here tonight to see ˇForward, Russia! The inverted exclamation mark t-shirts the band sells outnumber the "Everything Is Brilliant In Leeds" t-shirts and one lad is so excited he's worn a pair of leather fingerless gloves for the occasion.
While on a personal level they don't quite top This Et Al, their clever and original material is genuinely infectious. The singer caterwauls around the stage's limited space and each tune starts out as a very different song to how it started... in a good way.
Next time either of the two Leeds bands play anywhere near you check them out as it could be your last chance, unless you get festival tickets this time next year when they are headlining.
