Pulled Apart by Horses
Live at Brudenell Social Club on Saturday, 19th June 2010
The latest band from the hugely fertile Leeds music scene to make waves in the national music press, Pulled Apart By Horses would scare the casual Kaiser Chiefs or Corrine Bailey Rae fan to death - and they probably like it that way. A relentless touring schedule over the last two years has honed their abrasive punk-fuelled grunge into an impressive wall of sound, and a sweaty Brudenell Social Club felt the full force of it on Saturday night. A triumphant homecoming gig to celebrate the release of their debut album, each three minute riff-driven salvo was rapturously received by the crowd and they delivered a ferocious performance of ceaseless energy. Despite the tension present in their music, there is a playful sense of humour and irony within the band (with song titles like 'E=MC Hammer' or 'I Punched A Lion In The Throat' they could never be labelled inflammatory punk politicos in the Rage Against The Machine mould), and the four-piece were more concerned with gonzo fun than angst. This exuberant attitude was emphasised by a sweet birthday serenade for guitarist James Brown halfway through the set, and liberal doses of crowd surfing and genuine gratitude towards their fans from frontman Tom Hudson. Underneath the seismic drums, sludgy power chords and screaming lies evidence of a pop sensibility, and this is a tool they may choose to utilise once the hype around them recedes - they'll have to explore new dimensions in their sound if they are to avoid becoming one-trick horses, and their best material switches gears midway through a song or deviates from their hardcore blueprint. Equestrian puns aside, Pulled Apart By Horses provide pummelling thrills like few other current live acts and their smaller stage/tent slots during the summer festivals will suit their hyperactive intensity. With a support slot with Muse at their huge Manchester outdoor gig also on the horizon, the next few months should see them cement their status as one of Leeds' most exciting musical exports.
