1,398 DUTCH MUSTARD, Baby Universe, The Hunger, Bristol Louisiana, Friday 29th August 2025

 

This year seems to be turning into another one where most new “indie” bands are either hectoring me in flat and aggressive monotones as if from Speaker’s Corner, or simply sound flat and bored, following the IMHO not very good examples of the likes of Fontaines DC and Wet Leg respectively, with brand new bands of genuine interest to me few and far between. Oddly, the ones I’ve really enjoyed are predominantly female fronted, with a definite sonic bent towards dark shimmering shoegaze. So step forward Heartworms, Deep Sea Diver and this lot Dutch Mustard, who have beguiled me with a couple of splendid new tracks this year in “Life” and particularly the fine, pacey yet haunting “Dreaming”, prompting me to book tix to catch them “live” at close quarters in the snug confines of the Louie’s upstairs room. Apt also, that DM tonight are kicking off a possibly unprecedented run for me, being the first of 7 in a row by female-fronted bands! 

Left a bit later tonight, heading off at 7 for a quick run to the Louie car park. No parking shenanigans tonight, so I hit a curiously quiet Louisiana at 8 with the rope still across the stairs! The place was still very quiet by the time the bands kicked off, a bare dozen or so punters upstairs to greet painfully young 4-piece openers The Hunger at 8.30. From the outset, though, they were determined to leave an impression, playing to those there rather than those absent, lead singer Billy Barratt at one point abandoning the stage to physically push the audience closer! Early soaring rocker “Fallen Soldier” recalled Inhaler’s faster moments; a couple of helium fast indie blasts reminded me of old 90’s faves Marion; then they pulled up a mate onstage for Bez duties during a swaggering “Accelerate”. A couple of quiet/ load grunge-adjacent thrash-athons rounded off a swift set replete with bagfuls of youthful chutzpah, enthusiasm and no shortage of tuneage. Impressive stuff!

Main support Baby Universe were on after a quick changeover at 9; closer to tonight’s headliners in their shoegazey sonic template, they however suffered both in comparison to the sheer blistering energy of the openers, their material being largely slower and more atmospheric, but also struggled with the sound, layers of guitar tending to submerge the statuesque female vocalist’s work, and rendering the set a bit of a monotone and discordant greyscale canvas, with only the odd lilting vocal rising above the noise. Midway through a stripped-back plodder which reminded me of Sade (!). I took a wander downstairs, perusing the poster in the pub listing now-famous Louisiana “alumni” such as Green Day (!) and The National (!!) who’d previously graced that upstairs stage, and popped outside for a quick chat with a buoyant Hunger vocalist Billy. Back up for BU’s last number “Just Like TV”, which actually proved to be their best, a more upbeat dreampop number with an actual discernible hook, so maybe there’s some hope for them after all…

I kept my spot near the front, house right, for another quick turnaround, as striking Dutch Mustard vocalist Sarah-Jayne Riedel, pristeen in sheer black top and black rah-rah microskirt and exuding Spanish film-star class, directed set-up operations then asked, “shall we just go for it?” Kicking off at 9.35 with the wistful, early Lush-like “Song For Dreamers”, the sound was immediately crystal clear, allowing Sara-Jayne’s plangent harmonic vocals to deservedly take centre stage. Seemingly in fantasy band camp throughout, the singer evidently relished her time in the spotlight, gushing “we absolutely fucking love Bristol!” before an atmospheric, early Ride-like “Something To You” and the more Belly-esque alt-college pop of “Thank You”, then informing us that this is their debut headlining tour before the slower-burn, stately melancholy of “Loser”. Oldie “Magnifique” was a darker, brooding goth-tinged piece, but the upbeat melodic drive and layered choral harmonies of “Dreaming”, next up, was my set highlight. A couple of upbeat, almost punky blasts in “What The People Want” and “Life” recalled current faves Coach Party, with Sarah-Jayne bouncing kinetically across the stage and belting out the lyrics like a scalded cat, before the more typical shoegazey dreampop of “Feel Everything” closed out an excellent and surprisingly varied set, delivered with style, panache and a permanent grin from the vivacious Sarah-Jayne. Shame more people weren’t here to see it… 

Grabbed a list and a brief chat with the friendly DM singer afterwards, Sarah-Jayne thanking me for dancing (hmmm, she should have seen me on Tuesday…). Thanks and compliments before I got back to the car just before my ticket expired, a quick blast getting me home for 11.30. Another fine night out in Bristol, then; excellent newcomers in The Hunger, but Dutch Mustard, and Sarah-Jayne in particular, showed some real star quality and intriguing variation in their alt-indie based musical oeuvre. Methinks it won’t be too long before they feature on a Louisiana “alumni” poster themselves; Dutch Mustard are hot stuff and are going places fast!

1,397 MICHAEL SHANNON AND JASON NARDUCY play the songs of R.E.M., Bristol Thekla, Tuesday 26th August 2025

 

A hectic gigging Autumn launches with another mission of redemption for one of my favourite bands, namely R.E.M! As I’d discussed as part of my “Forever Now” 2025 review (gig 1,392), I’d first seen Athen’s finest support U2 in 1985 at Milton Keynes Bowl, where they’d kicked off a set following The Ramones with a real downer, the slow, morose and moody “Feeling Gravity’s Pull” from their then-current album “Fables Of The Reconstruction”, and I walked away… I realised the error of my ways 2 years later and ultimately saw R.E.M. a total of 8 times, so I was well up for this gig when I heard about it; Jason Narducy, Bob Mould’s right-hand bandmate, and granite faced US character actor Michael Shannon plus “friends” (including Bob Mould/ Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster and Dag Juhlin, formerly of eclectic 80’s lot Poi Dog Pondering and apparently a friend of my Gravel Pit mate Ed Valauskas!), playing a set of R.E.M material “live”, and apparently with the blessing of all 4 original members? I’m in! The fact that this tour ironically showcased that “Fables” album also gave me a chance to stay put for “Gravity’s” this time…!

Given that we’d originally recognised each other at an R.E.M. gig in May 1989 (gig 129), it was no surprise that Beef was up for this too. We hit the road at 5.45, arriving in good time but then suffering an absolute payment-mare involving broken meters, meters eating my cash for no ticket, and useless apps! I eventually drove to the nearby Louisiana car park, otherwise I might have ripped a meter off its pole in anger and hoyed it into the harbour! Nonetheless, we were still in for 7, grabbing a stage front spot, house right, next to occasional Devizes gig buddy Alfie. Recent gig friend Jeremy joined us as well, and lively rock chat passed the time, until the lights dimmed at 8 in front of a by-now full and expectant house. The band then took the stage, the great-coated Shannon last, greeting us with a soft, “hi,” before the ominous opening riff of “Gravity’s” rang out… 

“Fables”, R.E.M’s third, somewhat troubled album, was a development from the understated yet upbeat Rickenbacker jangle of their first two, delving into more Violent Femmes backwoods alt-country, albeit with a gloomier, almost macabre American gothic atmosphere at times, exemplified by this opening track. Fears that it might drag however were totally unfounded; it sounded great, no surprise really given the quality of the players, but vocalist Shannon also immediately demonstrated this was no vanity project on his behalf, his voice low, dark and authoritative, completely suiting the material. The Byrsdian gallop of “Driver 8” was a brilliant early highlight, after which Shannon commented on tonight’s “happening house,” some wag down the front (ok, me…) replying, “welcome to the dirty boat!” to his delight. Shannon then related the meaning of “Life And How To Live It” before the song’s undulating gallop, and Narducy later took the mic to lament his food poisoning episode during his last Bristol visit with Bob Mould in 2016 (gig 1,006) before the “Fables” outlier, the joyful shape-throwing funk of “Can’t Get There From Here”, by which time I was seriously working up a sweat in my front row spot, duly noted by Narducy (or was it my R.E.M album cover shirt?). The squalling behemoth of “Auctioneer” ceded to a beautiful, melancholy rendition of “Wendell Gee” to close out the “Fables” run through, Shannon commenting on R.E.M’s propensity for cover versions prior to an excellently observed “Femme Fatale”, which rounded off a waaaay better than expected first set. 

Barely time for a loo break before part two, a “scattershot” set through R.E.M.’s canon, albeit one which studiously avoided their well-known tracks, taking the path less trodden and rewarding the faithful. The strident and angular “Strange” preceded Shannon oddly inquiring, “everyone got the right shoes on?” SWDTF (again, me...) replying “Jon [Wurster] has!” the drummer favouring the same TUK creepers as me! “Bandwagon” was a jolly singalong and the subsequent “Gardening At Night” a superb descending thrill-ride; the haunting and prescient “World Leader Pretend” was preceded by Shannon commenting they’d been playing that one a lot in the States, “because… why wouldn’t you?”; the irresistible hurtling metronome of “Sitting Still” was my set highlight thus far; but that was immediately eclipsed by the wonderfully soaring and anthemic chorus of a heartfelt “Cuyahoga” to round off set two.

Shannon and Narducy then opened up a 5-song encore by two-handing a stripped back and plaintive “So. Central Rain”, Shannon impressively holding that final note in full-on Stipe fashion. A brilliant night’s rock was then ultimately climaxed with heartfelt thanks from Shannon, a promise to return next year to tour “Life’s Rich Pageant” (my favourite R.E.M. album! Yay!), and the inevitable closer, the embryonic post-punk chugalong “Radio Free Europe” before the band took a full deserved bow to acclaim, and I, finally, took a breath, sweaty and soaked from all my dancing! A passing Dag handed me the list, then a quick Boston-centric chat with the man afterwards and a catch up with Bristol friend Keeley preceded a shirtless walk back to the car and an euphoric drive home. Just a brilliant, celebratory night, a timeless and classic band done complete justice by Shannon, Narducy and co. As Shannon himself commented, “god bless R.E.M,” but god bless you fine gents as well!