Sweep The Leg Johnny
Live at Adelphi on Tuesday, 13th March 2001
I was really looking forward to this gig - I'd experienced 'Sweep' live before when we played an all-dayer with them in Wigan, so I knew the treat that was in store. Interesting story how I'd first heard them actually, a girl who did a label in Chicago called Divot Records sent me an album and a 7" to review for my fanzine over two years ago. I remember listening to it and thinking that to see this band play must be crazy - they're a four piece band with a singer who also plays saxophone. Their sound can be really nice and minimalist at times, with the soothing saxophone intertwining between the warm bass and light sprinkling of guitars, and then they'll suddenly launch into a chaotic, full-on blast of rhythm and energy. But anyway, on with the review...
This was the first time I'd been to the Adelphi and the gig was room was a wierd shape. No stage meant you had to get up front if you wanted to see. The lighting was nice and subdued, however and the atmosphere was good.
BILGE PUMP were on first with their rhythmic, stripped down, sound. It's hard to describe what they're like, but if you've heard Shellac then you're not far off. Pop music they are not. They were tight and energetic, with their talented drummer holding things together nicely. Sparse vocals shouted rather than sung added to the overall edginess of the sound. The guitarist broke two strings and changed 'em mid set, without much interuption, which was cool. They didn't play for too long and I enjoyed them a lot.
The area aound the mics and monitors filled up as THE PROPAGUMBHIES got ready to play and launched into an energetic set of their anthemic pop-punk-ska and were, as always, recieved well. Lee, the singer, didn't have much in the way of socio-political comments between songs (as he sometimes explains what the songs are about) but they pretty much got on with what they do best. A fun, energetic, fast paced set which contrasted nicely between the night's openers and what was to come...
SWEEP THE LEG JOHNNY took a little time to set up and then without announcement, slipped into their opening song. Right away, you see what they're all about - building up from a soft melody into a throbbing, wall of noise and screaming sax. The singer stood on two chairs whilst playing so more people could see. At one point the guitarist also climbed up onto his amp, which was a fairly rock n roll move - although his guitar head fell off the cab when he jumped off, which could have been expensive. The singer, when not spasticly throwing himself around to the music, has this habit of staring at people in the crowd - I mean *really* staring right at anyone who catches his eye. It's kind of disconcerting being at the recieving end of a hard glare from a tatooed man dripping with sweat and playing saxophone like his life depended on it, but often times he'd give you a smile and a sly wink if you manage to stare back. Sweep, clearly thrive on playing live and with this kind of energy it's not hard to see why. With a dry anouncement from the singer of, "This is a new song... it's called Sometimes my Balls feel like Tits.", they played some new, unrecorded stuff which was great. Finishing up with a song called Shower Scene from the album I was sent years ago brought things to a tumultuous and fitting end. Once they'd taken a minute to wipe themselves down and have a breather, they stuck around to drink a few beers and shoot the shit with the crowd.
A great night and a great job done by the Cops & Robbers guys. The next time you hear about Sweep The Leg Johnny playing, don't miss out...
