11-14/4/19
So I had an urge, an urge to splurge on dirge. 2016 was the last time I was at Roadburn and I was missing it, so the itch in my ear had to be scratched. There were some cool line-up announcements but past experience showed it was one of the best places for discovering new stuff from the eclectic mix of dark and heavy vibes they celebrate.
rotten sound
What is there to Dread? Last year I combined a day in Hammerfest in North Wales with a trip up to a couple of days of this festival of chronic sonic abuse, this year I dived in soft-shoe first for the full weekend in Leeds. Leaving Hammerfest behind in some Brexit fashion (as now it in turn seems to be leaving North Wales behind next year too), not an isolationist stay at home but embracing connections to elsewhere. While I have had some classic messy times and been grateful for great bands on our doorstep my refined/corrupted tastes are much more rewarded by all that is to offer over the Pennines.
[ace pics from Darren Green and Malek Baali]
The second night of my contrasting Xmas hardcore holidays saw me braving the storms to make my way up the M6 to Lancaster. Been quite a few years since I have ventured to the punk rock mecca of Rebellion at nearby Blackpool but there was a definite flavour of that event here with some old school legends treading the sticky boards, except it was a free entry gig in a pub! What’s not to like?
Xmas so hitch up for a slay ride around the North West for the weekend to have a final traditional dose of live music experiences. I was thinking back that there was often something about this time that required a special mission and a diverse double header gave some frisson of anticipation to these jaded ears sinking into hibernation after another excellent years entertainment.
It was a couple of years back that a friend in the U.S. recommended the filth and fury of these Noise Rock-ing Whores., probably with the release of their only album so far, “Gold”. I was impressed with the levels and tones at the time but a lot (of drinking) has gone on in the meantime to the extent I couldn’t remember much about them by the time this tour was announced. Some vestige of memory must remain though as in the traditional busy autumn tours season I thought, hey, why not add another Monday night expedition!