After missing seeing The Effigies playing at Rebellion where they clashed with The Avengers and The Anti Nowhere League, not hearing about the bands fringe gig in time and then meeting Bassist Paul Zamost outside Blackpool North station on our way home where he gave us free t-shirts, we needed to go and see the band's first London show in the bands 45 year career, the shock was it had been moved from The Underworld upstairs into the Worlds End pub and was a free show! They were also the perfect band to play in the Heinz position being the 57th band I've seen so far this August!
We arrived early enough to see the main support band Our Lives In Cinema who set up by the main entrance of this historic old pub that was once the smugglers den known at the Mother Red cap, from the get go this 5 piece were incredibly loud, at a level that made several casual drinkers leave the pub. I think singer Mark Bartlett said the first song was called Melancholy Way that had a spoken word intro that was easy to hear before the tsunami of guitars and raging drums came in, blowing our ears away, at that point the vocals became totally indistinct, during This Is Worth It some people walked into the pub, went to the bar to order drinks and thought better of it, practically running back out to get away from the incredible wall of noise.
Dead Letters had another quiet intro, so we could hear what Mark was saying before the Bass and guitars attacked our senses again, they told us all to Try Our Best and obviously the sound man got the hint something was wrong with the vocals, by the start of Selective History he had come down to Table 20 and turned the vocal monitor round, so instead of pointing at the band it pointed at the audience, suddenly we could all hear the vocals, in perfect time for a group of tourists to walk in followed by a videographer, who paused to film the band before swiftly going back to filming her friends, they lasted about 30 seconds before they ran back out defeated by the noise.
Mark then gave a long intro to Either Get A Dog Or Don't making clear that it's okay to not want kids, something I totally agree with, the welter of guitars and pummelled drums were totally full on, the joy they had at having the chance to support The Effigies was clear in the thanks before it was time for them to be Crushing Light before they closed with Eager Feelings that was a speedy rush of intense noise.
After a short break to allow a few more unsuspecting drinkers to arrive, thinking they would be able to have a quiet pint in a noisy rock pub, it was time for The Effigies with new singer/guitarist Geoff Sabin to help kick things off on Below Drop he got more intense as Paul Zamost was fingering the strings on his bass, I guessed the second song as Busted driven powerfully along by Steve Economou's imperious drumming, We're Da Machine was super powerful with Andy Gerber's dark twisted guitar working perfectly as Geoff danced and sang. Mob Clash sounded like a good tale of the old Chicago and the nonsense that went on back in the day.
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Sortie was next even if I claimed in my notes it was What Am I Going To Do the sentiments were front and centre and the kinetic energy coming from the band was fantastic, certainly powerful enough to drive any stray tourists out of the Worlds End. Apparently the Night Train was already rumbling along the tracks underneath the Worlds End and Pauls' bass had a perfect rumble going on. When Geoff introduced Smile he and the entire band had fixed grins on their faces, before the song set off some mad moshing considering the confines of the space we were in, complete with some air drumming down the front.
Was No Love the song I guessed was I Need It the urgency of that single guitar as Geoff danced right out onto Camden Road and back into the Worlds End. Guns was a full-on rush with most of the audience dancing about hoping to avoid any shooting. The Effigies were giving it Everything and we were all very appreciative, Body Bag was welcomed like a huge hit and had the biggest sing along of the set before they got Haunted in a centuries old venue that has more than its share of ghosts. The plea for Security is something that seems rather important these days, the bass on this was totally impressive adding loads of texture to the angularity of the guitars.
They took aim at anyone who was an Infiltrator who needed dealing with, We'll Be Here Tomorrow made one or two people ask if the Effigies were playing a second date, no it was the name of the song that closed this immensely enjoyable set. They didn't have anywhere to disappear to but were soon back for the encore of I'll Get By that was a perfect way to end a totally astonishing show that should have sold out the Electric Ballroom at least. After the set the band hung out and were super friendly, I look forward to seeing them again at next year's Rebellion Festival.
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