With the world's loudest band, underground noise legends Lightning Bolt, playing to a sold out Brudenell, the stage, or the floor, was set for a night no-one there would forget. Or, if they did, at least their eardrums never would.
The first of three support bands to play were 'Chops' - a mixture of synths, fast beats and effect-soaked saxophone. They played a short set, and the star of their show is undoubtedly their hobo-looking drummer, who led them through the tunes in a quirky and groovy style.
Next were Action Beat, with two drummers and more heaviness than invention. The dual drummers drove the band forward nicely through their mainly instrumental set, although they didn't quite link up perfectly in some faster sections.
It was definitely a drummers night so far, and with Brian Chippendale readying backstage thing could only get better...
But just as it looked like the perfect night, a.P.A.t.T. came on stage. After twiddling the knobs for half an hour - trying to find the right mix between clarinet and accordion perhaps - they started the set with an extended a'capella section before turning to their instruments. Their sound was halfway between the Locust and Mr Bungle, skipping between styles every five seconds, playing every genre you can name except good. Loud as Lightning Bolt were going to be, this group still caused more pain to my ears. The heavily bearded main man clearly worshipped Mike Patton, but had none of the same charisma and style which makes Fantomas the band they are.
This was all quickly forgotten, as drums and amps started appearing in the middle of the clubs floor - including three or four sets of P.A and a couple of Marshall stacks. The floor was packed straight away, and the stage taken over by fans as tension and feedback slowly built up till no-one could stand it any longer, and the two Brians arrived. Starting quickly with 'Sound Guardians' from latest album Earthly Delights, they took no time to send the crowd wild. It's something about being eye to eye with Chippendale, arms and feet and head flailing behind his orange mask, something to do with the overpowering noise that shakes you all over and drives Brian Gibson's heavy grooving, repetitive dance influenced bass lines home. Maybe it's Chippendales vocals, coming out soaked in delay from a mic he holds in his mouth, that let loose some primal instinct in us. It's hard to explain, but it's something Lightning Bolt evoke perfectly.
They played only seven or eight songs, but dragged out each with extended improvised sections. The two that struck me were 'colossus', another from Delights, which starts with a thoughtful bass chord sequence before slamming into a brick wall of distortion and quickly hitting fifth gear, and 'Megaghost', a mash of whales song and drum 'n' bass. The set closed with the always brilliant 'Dracula Mountain'.
Lightning Bolt are a unique, wild and very very loud presence in Noise music, and it's hard to imagine a live act which could top the levels of excitement they inspire. My ears are still ringing three days later, and I doubt they'll forgive me any time soon. Still, I'd do it all again tomorrow if I got the chance.
Gig Date: Thursday, 3rd December 2009 | 602 page views.
