Howling Bells: Manchester Club Academy: 15th March
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Oceania isn't known as a hub of creativity, but decent acts have been steadily trickling out of the forgotten continent for ages. The Vines and Nick Cave to name but two. More recently the radio friendly likes of kid-rockers, Operator Please and the "synthgasmic" So So Modern have made their way to our hallowed shores from the outback.
Howling Bells are another of the current crops of Aussies plying their trade in the UK, having moved here in 04. Their self-titled debut long player met with a volley of critical acclaim as the music press and fans alike fawned themselves into a frenzy over the down tempo garage prog-pop.
Their new album, Radio Wars, released in February on Independiente Records follows the exact same lines and their appearance Manchester's Club Academy is the second to last of their current tour.
Glenn, Brendan and Joel are on stage a full two minutes before lead singer Juanita Stein sashays her way on-stage. "This is our new single," always a good way to start, well if it's a good single, which is isn't. Uninspiring would be an understatement. It's a digestive biscuit of a song, utterly plain, insipid and lacking any palpable sence of intelligence, which I grant you, is maybe quite a lot to ask of a biscuit, but seriously, it was rubbish.
And things go from uninspiring to thoroughly lackluster, songs pass without distinction, the crowd applauds out of courtesy. "You're quite tame for a Manchester audience, you need to be like, louder," says Juanita. "Well fucking...be better," replies one lone wit in the audience.
Sadly, as if out of spite, they stalwartly refuse to. The ironically titled 'Into the Chaos', which although eminently unchaotic, is the lone highlight of the dirge.
They wander off-stage to luke warm applause before strutting back on for a unrequested encore. Plainly they have most of the ingredients, they're as tight as a band can be, lead singer Juanita is insanely hot and guitarist Joel is almost oppresivley handsome.
But something, something intergal, is missing. Something their support act The Joy Formidable (which this dork journo mistakenly pronounced as the french word for great all evening) were not lacking. Recorded, it sounds pretty samey and tame, but live, it was like being kicked in nuts by a emotional Samoan - but in a really good way.
With the rupturing sonics of 'iLiKETRAiNS', bittersweet vocal akin to a prog-rock Jemina Pearl and a drummer who hits them like Grant Hart from Husker Du, the North Walian three piece do epic prog-pop as well as anyone I've heard.
An honourable mention to should go to Chew Lips who opened. Despite their am-dram lead singer, "Tigs" (a self selected nickname I'm sure) and awkward, albeit, seemingly self inflicted stage setup, which saw the guitarists/keyboardists James and Will facing each other, they produced a neat and engaging performance.
"Tigs" is annoying, but she's fit and she's got an ace voice, while James and Will are far better with guitars in hand as opposed to poking at plastic boxes.
I don't think bands should leave you feeling empty (some Coldplay loving Nihilists among you will no doubt disagree), but as I leave Club Academy that's exactly how I feel. Wilted. Tired. Bored. Irked. Until I remember The Joy Formidable.
Howling Bells' album won't sell much, and they'll probably not release another, not unless they find some inspiration from somewhere. And looking at these guys? I can't see it happeneing.
Digestive biscuit? No thank you!
1/5 Howling Bells
4/5 The Joy Formidable
3/5 Chew Lips
Words: Oliver Jones
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