Friday 3 March 2023

1,266 THE STAYAWAKES, Everyone Lies, Rats! Rats! Rats! Norm Archer, Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms, “Edge Of The Wedge”, Tuesday 28th February 2023

 


Bowing out of a hectic February with the third gig in 4 nights, and a trip down to the South Coast for some irresistible harmony-driven chunky guitar powerpop from Southsea’s The Stayawakes, the band currently filling the Gigolo Aunts-shaped hole in my “Dance Card”. Following a recent hectic time, this was a late call with my only booking tix this afternoon, but in all honesty I wasn’t really about to miss the chance to catch up with these splendid gentlemen on their own home turf…!

 Hit traffic on my way to a pre-departure chiropractor appointment and had to blow it off; so, unmanipulated, I hit the road proper about 5ish for a tricky journey, squeezing into a street parking space about 6 inches bigger than my motor just after 7. Ran into Stayawakes drummer Steven outside the venue, being joined by guitarists Peter and Andrew for some rock chat and catching up, and also being introduced to their friend and former bassist K.O., apparently a long-time follower of my blog! Woah! In out of the cold just after doors, and into the smaller yet neat little venue front room, running into bassist Jimmy on the way. Norm Archer took the corner stage at 7.45 – a pseudonym for solo electric guy Will, this was allegedly an outlet for his more psych-pop material, but apart from a Byrds-like “It’s Alright With Me”, his overt, impassioned delivery and overt post-grungy popcore power chord guitar work reminded me more of the likes of Superchunk, Bob Mould and even my mate Si Hall and his Raze*Rebuild boys. The galloping Modern Baseball-esque emo of “The Seatbelt Won’t Release” was my pick of a rocking set I’d like to hear with a full band…

 Gosport duo Rats! Rats! Rats! were next up in fairly short order, kicking into some primitive, buzzsaw-fast proto punk redolent of second division 70’s punk acts like The Models, Shapes, Last Words et al, although later numbers delved into creepy proto goth, both in mood and subject matter. I liked the confrontational “What Is The Point Of You?” and an almost jolly “All Of Your Friends Are Dead”, which featured an unexpected whoop from the drummer! Completing the support triumvirate were regular Stayawakes gig cohorts, Southampton’s Everyone Lies, again assaulting the eardrums with their hooky yet in-your-face amphetamine-fast pop-punk and introducing themselves as, “Everyone Lies from Andover – we want our cars to be safe!” I found their power chord sonic assault a little relentless and one-dimensional, although “Stuck Inside My Head” and “90’s Girl” again featured some nice hooks and choral harmonies, and the beefy vocalist was in good form, getting a Tuesday night singalong going for “Get Up”, so fair play for that!

 That took us to 10 to 10, and The Stayawakes donned the usual pink polka dots, Peter and Andrew trying to get their logo backdrop hooked up onto the wall as a “sidedrop!” No hanging about either, they were soon on stage and straight into action, with opener “Please Steve Just Drive” kicking off an energetic, ragged yet committed set of amped-up, buoyant and thrillingly muscular powerpop rock’n’roll, with those unfashionable staples of irresistible hooks and great 3-part harmonies, as usual from these boys, well to the fore. Also, the sound for this venue was (finally!) spot-on, the mix perfectly balanced in this impressive little space. Yay!

 


“This turnout is proof that it’s cheaper to come to a Stayawakes gig than stay home with the heating on!” deadpanned Peter before the undulating riff of an early, 90’s US-alt rock-esque “Slumbers”, which was dedicated to me by Andrew. Next up, newie “Tell Kate Bush I Want My Bloody Shoes Back!” felt somewhat of a departure for The Stayawakes, their trademark lush guitar noise underpinned with an air of growling menace. The double whammy of an almost 50’s soda bar doo-wop “Lovestruck” and the tremendous soaring gallop of “Pink Wave” were mid-set highlights, and “This Town” prompted a debate about a forthcoming video, Andrew persuading a local buddy to appear in it as a tailor! The slower-burn, Pixies-ish off-kilter beat and dissonant riff of “Stepping Over Cracks” capped a breathless and breathtaking set, although time was in our favour for an unplanned and rather brilliant run-through of the undulating luge-ride of “Little Explorer”, with the furiously riffing Jimmy joining us on the floor for the song’s lengthy denouement. Great stuff again!

 


Cognisant of time, I didn’t hang out for long afterwards, grabbing a list and pic before saying my farewells to the boys and K.O., a 1 ½ hour drive home pitching me back in the ‘don just before 12.30. Knackered in the office the next day, but well worth it to see The Stayawakes on this form. Overall, an impressive home win!

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