Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames @ Brudenell Social Club
By Ben Smith
Arriving on stage later that billed did nothing to quell These Monsters' instrumental blasts of squalling guitars with blasts of saxophone. The band's focal point was provided by their saxophonist, giving an unusual mix of Mogwai-esque soundscapes and heavy riffs . It was only when the songs turned slowly into a nu-metal esque dirge towards the end of the set that the band lost their momentum and seemed overwhelmed by their attempted fusion of genres.
Quack Quack appeared next, initially seeming to be in a similar vein to These Monsters. However, the emphasis on angular keyboard sounds gave a strong Muzak vibe, as opposed to the apparent quirkiness they were aiming for.
Stumbling onstage to a blast of Girls Aloud, initial hopes for Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames... suggested their performance may be blighted by a large dose of irony and self-awareness. However, from the first moment they launch into their set, this fear evaporates. Playing a set of energetic post-punky bursts, the band manage to combine a tightness and a shambolic air as they edge about stage in a strange kind of unhinged unison. Something Kind Of Ooh indeed.
The Brudenell's already crystal-clear PA provided a worthy display of tonight's talents, and it was announced that the venue will be bolstered by a £10,000 National Lottery Grant to renovate the facilities, ensuring showcases for bright new hopes such as Shut Your Eyes... continue to constitute a prominent part of the Leeds music scene.
