1,407 COACH PARTY, Oxford Jericho Tavern, Wednesday 1st October 2025

 

The third of 3 gigs in a row for me, and 5^th of 6 in 10 days! Retirement, shmetirement… this was actually a late addition to my Autumn Dance Card, as it happened; we’d already booked tix to see current “live” faves, flippant IOW indie popsters Coach Party, on the “Dirty Boat” next February, as part of their actual tour promoting the release of sophomore album “Caramel”. However, I was keeping an eye out for one of those Record Release tours as well, and this one, when announced, passed through Bristol and Oxford. Yay! Unfortunately the Brizzle Rough Trade date clashed with Sleeper and Rialto at Bristol Electric last week (given the 2 venues are practically opposite each other, I did give some thought to doing both, but even the quickest first-in-the-queue getaway from RT would have meant missing Rialto’s set), so t’was a return to my old 80’s/ early 90’s haunt The Jericho, for a Truck Records outstore performance instead!

Picked Paul up just after 6 for the usual winding route to Oxford, debating the format of tonight’s performance, given that a few recent “outstore” gigs (Inhaler, Lottery Winners earlier this year) had been a bit “extra”, i.e. support bands and all. However, tonight’s format, we discovered on arrival at 7 (after finally working out the parking protocol in the nearby streets) was a CP set at 8 and signing afterwards, so more like the Rough Trade “instores” I attend! Grabbed a drink and a chat, soaking in the atmosphere of this dingy yet evocative old venue, scene of previous 80’s/ 90’s gigs by Pulp, Heart Throbs, A House et al (and of course The Parachute Men, hosts here 4 times), before wandering down for a house left spot by the mixing desk. 

The Coach Party folks themselves squeezed through the crowd to take the stage at 8, opening with new album leadoff track, the punkish building choral hook of “Do It For Love”, kinetic vocalist Jess Eastwood’s deadpan verse snark and scalded cat choral yelp a feature throughout. “Georgina”, next up, was tremendous; a groovy, metronomic indie rhythm again building to an impressive, yearning and octave straddling choral hook, some proper progression and development in their songwriting already evident after this opening double-whammy. Sounding great too, the Jericho sound system precise and crystal clear. “Have you bought the new album?” asked guitarist Steph, repeating that request 3 times as apparently our response was so poor! 

Tonight’s set was therefore a complete run-through of the new album, albeit in slightly rejigged order, presumably to road-test the material for the tour proper. If so, I’d suggest on tonight’s evidence they could throw all this new stuff in the set, and it’d easily stack up with what’s becoming an increasingly impressive canon of work. “Control” was a moodier psych workout with a slashing Hives-like underlying guitar riff; “Fake It” and “I Really Like You” (the latter being, “the only positive song on the record!” according to Jess) referenced the early 90’s with Smashing Pumpkins-esque drum patterns underpinning a distinctly brooding and understated slacker laze rock vibe; and “Disco Dream” (Paul’s favourite!) ramped up the pace a few million mph, its jagged and ragged hurtle culminating in an anthemic, fist-pumping choral chant from Jess, throwing herself about the stage with carefree abandon. 

“Could we be any looser?” inquired Jess, jogging on the spot before a brash, punkish “Medicate”, before the more angular new wave/ Britpop feel of “Do Yourself A Favour” preceded a lengthy shout out for their manager Jonathan, lurking in the bar around the corner. “We could be in the charts! Thank you so much for helping us!” gushed the effusive Steph, before the strident, anthemic in-your-face rant of squally, attitude-loaded closer “Girls” rounded off a brash, breathless 45 minutes. All the lists went early to the front rows, or so I thought… Paul and I took a speculative look down the front, noticing a random bit of paper on Joe’s keyboard which turned out to be his list! Result! This put us at the back of the queue for the meet and greet, however it moved swiftly and we grabbed quick chats, compliments, signed CDs and a pic with an as-ever accommodating bunch. Back in the car swiftly thereafter and home after dropping Paul off at an early 10.15, in plenty of time to watch a bit of the Red Sox baseball playoffs! So, another great Coach Party night; some excellent new material on a potential AOTY candidate in “Caramel”, the band developing and advancing their sound with additional hints of slacker grunge, post-punk and even Britpop, and ready to rock the “Dirty Boat” next February!