(LEEDS VS. GLASGOW 1st Leg)
SIDEARM are a spiky new wave three piece from Peterborough with lots of good ideas and a deeply grunge vocal delivery. Their opener cracks in with a mean Streets monologue over a LOU REED-ish backing. They veer into and away from SLINT territory and give a very good impression of a young band with a smartly wide range of material and a sharp future.
For the main event, Leeds and Glasgow square up in a distinctly comradely way. No tantrums at sound check, and plenty of North of England Hospitality from PARISMAN. But blasting straight into their set it's obvious that PARISMAN will give no quarter and take no prisoners. Leeds and Glasgow are both exciting cities with vibrant live scenes. PARISMAN have fought their way to the top of the Leeds pile through polishing their live set till it zings. Drummer, guitarist and bass player do turns with the singing, and all three voices are rich and self assured. Samples and Korg fill out and spice up the guitar rock main frame.
The band sway about and pile on the sonic energy till the audience submits. No gaps, no relent, fast and furious songs with loads of hooks and sweet emotional surges. Thunderously loud. They do the business for sure. And "Inspiration and Tar" from their "Lessons in the Art of Balance" EP is outstanding. Only a hypnotic sampled "weed smoking motherfucker" keeps it off the Radio One play lists. Somewhere in the back of my tiny mind I'm trying to recall the name PRIMAL SCREAM from a sensational set they played at Leeds Carling Festival (which PARISMAN have also played) a while back. But it doesn't matter that I can't remember it tonight. This is PARISMAN. They are good. Their music depends on no one else. Watch out.
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KASINO come in as guest top billing for the Leeds leg of this double header. They have a more relaxed approach, and whiz guitarist David Marshall wears the shorts and T shirt that everyone else wishes they had put on in the boiler room temperature of the Royal Park Cellars.
KASINO are bringing their debut Fearless album out to play, and they do it proud. Their double guitar attack chugs jangles screams and swoops its way through a whole swathe of top quality songs: from the moody and challenging "Pigfear" to the deft pop intelligence of "Shy". Gary Marshall is Mr Nice Bloke with specs and a great voice up front. John Clarke lurks tall mysterious and pulsing on bass and Calum MacArthur batters along on percussion with style and intelligence. They're in a wide Scots tradition of great yearning songs plus outright rockishness that has seen a string of monster acts down the years.
It has to be said they also have their own mature and instantly recognisable sound. Like PARISMAN they definitely come from Somewhere, but you wouldn't for a moment call them "local". They have full adult authority and give themselves complete permission to do their own music in their own way. The partisan Leeds crowd are totally convinced and they make a Cellar full of appreciative noise.
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