The Void/Bronto Skylift/The Strands
Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
added: 3 Aug 2009 // gig date: 31 Jul 2009
reviewer: Susan Ford
Manky Bastard – dirty by name, dirty by nature. One thing’s for sure though, Edinburgh’s mankiest promoters sure know how to put on a sweepingly fine gig in the good name of sweaty rock music. Performing tonight for the Manky Bastard crowd is local 4-piece The Void, double-trouble act Bronto Skylift, and one of Edinburgh’s homegrown finest The Strands.
Up first is The Void, a quintessentially brilliant noise-pop set up with a start-stop kind of sound. The vocals are unique; juxtaposing the jaunty guitar-lead tunes with leadsinger Ewan Simpson’s beautiful melodies. The barriers of audience participation are also pushed tonight, as Ewan pulls a drum into the crowd, for a ‘banging’ finale to another great set from the band. Sneaky Pete’s is quite possibly Edinburgh’s smallest venue, but The Void tonight make a big impact, giving the evening a real good kick into action.
Motorhead are supposedly the loudest band ever recorded, but I’d seriously like to see Lemy’s face as Glasgow two-piece Bronto Skylift take to the stage with a roaring eagerness. Combining loud with loud, Bronto Skylift create a sound far too surreal to come from only two people. Three broken drum sticks into the set, drummer Iain continues to pound out those crazy beats, as the guitarist drags his weapon into the crowd for a voracious grand finale.
On next are local outfit The Strands. No doubts about it, The Strands are one of Edinburgh’s best unsigned bands. Their dirty rock beats and cunningly good lyrics have powered them through many a success, including sold out shows and a slot on the Britbus Tour. Tonight in Sneaky Pete’s however, through the technical glitches and broken bass, it’s clear to see this fantastic quartet fall apart. The band have too many strong points (leadsinger Andy Moore’s vocals to name just one), to give up everything: but this evening’s performance signals the end of an era, the end of a musical legacy, the end of Edinburgh’s unsigned heroes?
Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh’s charmingly small and sweaty venue, let Manky Bastard Concerts loose in their vicinity tonight to stage a furiously good rock show. Playing tonight were funky rock kids The Void, and music’s loudest two-piece Bronto Skylift. Topping the show were grunge-punks The Strands, producing an out-of-the-normal and hopefully one-off, half-hearted performance. Manky Bastard are bringing new talent to the forefront of Edinburgh’s unsigned music scene, in a buttery wave of dirty rock ‘n’ roll. Manky Bastard will follow on tonight’s show with CryOverBillionaires, I See Shapes and Lions.Chase.Tigers on August 22nd in Sneaky Pete’s.
For news and information on Manky Bastard in Edinburgh, visit their website: www.mankybastard.com.
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