A Fistful of Fandango Festival 229, London 9-12/9/09
4/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Eugene McGuinness’ punkified Merseybeat seems an apt soundtrack as England’s fourth goal goes in against Croatia to seal World Cup qualification, whilst Neil’s Children evoke memories of Admiral-manufactured football strips and tight shorts with a set that references classic post-punk galore: PiL’s ‘Death Disco’, The Cure’s ‘Killing An Arab’ and Joy Division’s ‘Isolation’ all spring to mind here.
[HERMAN DUNE]
Herman Dune open with frontman David-Ivar Herman Düne remaining unaccompanied for a couple of Neil Young-ish numbers but is joined by the rest of the band for ‘Shadow of a Doubt’, a tune ‘inspired by a Great British citizen- Alfred Hitchock’ as the singer describes in his charming French burr, but in truth this is fairly unremarkable Country & Western-lite.
[KONG]
The three mask-clad loons known as Kong open Thursday night’s bill with aplomb – all bowel-loosening post-hardcore riffs and Mark E Smith style incoherent ranting between songs. White Belt Yellow Tag are another trio, but it’s not just their lack of masks that set them apart as a far more commercially-minded operation. Soaring vocals courtesy of a pretty singer, chiming guitars and reverberating drums put them squarely in Glasvegas/Editors territory, with closer ‘Where Echoes Land’ their very own ‘All These Things That I've Done.’ Expect them to feature prominently when you’re advised to “Press The Red Button on Your Remote” during festie season 2010.
[FUTURE OF THE LEFT]
Tight of jean, shaggy of hair and loud/quiet of structural dyanmic, Dinosaur Pile-Up seem doomed inexorably to Nirvana comparisons, although there’s more of a pop edge to the Leeds’ lads. Headliners Future of the Left (comprising members of Cardiff cult heroes Mclusky) are an absolute hoot; a winning combination of maniacal energy, vicious Rage Against The Machine-at-chucking-out-time aggression and hilariously snakry banter. Singer Falco laments having performed to an audience of adolescents at a Greek festival so ‘it’s nice to play for a crowd who’ve gone through puberty’. ‘Give yourselves a round of applause for coming out’ screams bassist Kelson Mathias. ‘Aww, I can’t believe you all just f***ing did that!’ It’s a supremely entertaining show, but the deranged synth-pop of ‘Manchasm’, the caustic industrial thud of ‘You Need Satan More Than He Needs You’ and The Birthday Party belligerence of ‘The Hope That House Built’ are worth a special mention.
Future of the Left once played a Rockfeedback house party - see evidence of the carange below...
[ART BRUT]
Hatcham Social’s fusion of The Wedding Present and Franz Ferdinand results in a pleasing pop gallop, and Art Brut’s arch garage-punk squall is a thoroughly enjoyable manner in which to close Fistful of Fandango 2009. Opening with call-to-arms ‘Formed A Band’ (interspersed with snippets of Jonathan Richman’s ‘Roadrunner’) they’ve slotted into place as one of modern indiedom’s most endearing acts. Portly singer Eddie Argos’ cumbersome scissor-kicks, the harrowing insight of ‘Rusted Guns of Milan’ and ode to lost love 'Emily Kane', sweetly introduced by Eddie as being ‘about a girl I thought I loved very much’ bring the curtain down on a top set of shows.
Artists in this article: Neils Children, Future of the Left, Kong, Herman Dune, White Belt Yellow Tag, Hatcham Social, Dinosaur Pileup
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