Welcome to the ramblings of a man who really should have grown out of listening to "that sort of music" a long, long time ago...A place to share thoughts and photographs on music and related paraphernalia.
Sunday 3 September 2017
Las Aspiradoras & The No-Things at Weirdsville August 26th
I know it has become a bit of a standing joke that after every visit to Weirdsville I proclaim that I have just witnessed my new favourite band. But thanks to Mr A and Alexandra Beat Girl (and Ade when it comes round to their yearly Hipsville A-Go-Go Weekenders) I get the rare chance to see some superb acts from all corners of the globe, well, if globes had corners that is. Some I have seen before like Giuda and Les Kitschenette’s but it’s often the first chance I will get to see such a band play live. For example, I have seen The Revox and The Jackets from Switzerland, Autoramas from Brazil, Los Sustos and Viv & The Sect from Mexico, Kinoko Hotel, The Ladybugs and The Stompin’ Riff Raffs from Japan, The Satelliters from Germany, Messer Chups from Russia, Shupa from Spain and Johnny Mafia and Les Grys-Grys from France. I don't know how but they even managed to book Davros & The Deep Space Deviants all the way from the planet Skaro!
The No-Things at Weirdsville - Photo @ Retro Man Blog
The No-Things at Weirdsville - Photo @ Retro Man Blog
Tonight’s opening act The No-Things are in comparison, relatively local to Weirdsville in that they come from Edinburgh and they have a familiar vocalist, well not at first they don’t because he is missing when guitarist Alex, bassist Scott and drummer Calvin take to the stage and crank up the opening number. It’s Laurent from Les Bof! and he is in the crowd down at the front dancing away before suddenly leaping on stage to join in. With his impressive sideburns, Beatle-boots and stripey T-Shirt Laurent is the quintessential Garage Rock front-man. When he's not blasting out some superb harmonica he's dancing, spinning and leaping into the audience at every possible opportunity.
The No-Things at Weirdsville - Photo @ Retro Man Blog
The No-Things at Weirdsville - Photo @ Retro Man Blog
Second song “Don’t Get On My Tits” is an absolute snotty-nosed Garage Rock classic and I keep finding myself rather embarrassingly singing it aloud in the office; it boasts an unbelievably catchy chorus and it has a rude word in it, what’s not to like? Likewise "Diamond Ring" and "Birds Flyin' Outta My Head", stand-out tracks on their "Here Come The No-Things" LP are insanely catchy and the brilliantly nagging guitar riff to "J'vais être Riche" gets lodged in your head for days after. While the rhythm section are impressively locked in tight there's a nice Punky edge to Alex's guitar that adds to a thrillingly unpredictable sound. It's raw Garage Rockin' R'n'B at it's best.
If I thought The No-Things were wired then I was in for a bigger shock with headlining act Las Aspiradoras who upped the fizzing energy levels to the max. They kicked off with the triple shot of "Malmete", "Para Ser Guay" and one of my favourites "Autodestrucción" without even so much as a 'hello' and proceeded to storm through a relentless set crammed with well over 20 more songs. Singer/Guitarist Chicho has one of those voices that is sometimes described as if he 'gargles with razor blades and gasoline' and he is a suitably energetic front-man. Like Laurent before him, Chicho seems to spend most of his time among the audience, either kneeling down slashing out some great riffs or even laying on his back spreadeagled on the floor. At one point, Mr A gets in on the act and strums Chicho's guitar enthusiastically as he lays there. Jungle Julia is an stunning visual foil to Chicho, she looks great and plays the organ with her elbows, knees and feet (you have to see it to believe it...) as well as the rather more conventional method. They also possess a great rhythm section featuring Juanjo on bass, who trades poses with Chicho and there's Oscar on drums, who leans precariously into his mic to add some backing vocal harmonies.
Some of my personal highlights included "Ni Rastro De Polvo" and "Mi Adicción" which I would love to sing along to if my Spanish was any good; but all their songs have hooks that really do stick in your mind. They also play some choice cover versions such as Freddie Cannon’s “Palisades Park” and Los Macana’s excellent “Radio Go” that go down a storm on the night, as does Chubby Checker’s “Karate Monkey” which inspires some audience participation of accompanying monkey grunts and karate moves. I think I spent the whole set with a huge soppy grin plastered all over my face; they are that kind of band. You can’t help but smile and jump around, or in my case being an old git and rather shy, I can’t help but stand there, tap my feet and nod my head in time to the music. But believe me, inside I am jumping around like a loon! Weirdsville, you have done it yet again!
For more information on Las Aspiradoras check out their Facebook page here and The No-Things can be found at this link. Weirdsville happenings take place on the last Saturday of every month so if you want to be introduced to your new favourite band, check out their web-site here. More photos of the gig can be found at the Retro Man Facebook page here and there are some more videos of both bands at our Retro Man YouTube channel, along with many more Weirdsville acts.
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