Isle Of Wight’s finest export Coach
Party, the little band that could, a band with a seemingly voracious appetite
for touring at present, and rapidly becoming one of the best of the current
British bunch to tread the boards, along with loose contemporaries October
Drift, Desperate Journalist and Indoor Pets… Having barely completed their
touring cycle last Autumn in support of debut album “Killjoy”, a vicious burst
of dynamism that added a ferocious edge to their previously established smart
and snarky indie pop, they then announced a one-off gig in Guildford for
August, so naturally (and having established that Guildford’s not that far
really for a gig thanks to The Stayawakes, gig 1,281) I pounced on Seetickets
to book up. However, on doing so, I came across this date at Cardiff’s Clwb
Ifor Bach which had previously passed by my gig radar, having been tacked on at
the end of a European CP jaunt. One’s about an hour and a half to the west from
the ‘don, one about an hour and a half to the east; fuck it, I’ll do both!
So it was that I did the M4 trundle again, over the bridge this time, dumping the motor in a car park near the castle and wandering around its’ perimeter to the venue. Chatted with We Are Scientists fan Louise in the brief drizzle outside, plus a couple of gents who’d seen Coach Party 20 and 80 times respectively! Puts my 7th tonight to shame…! Up the annoying 4 flights to the venue on doors, grabbing a front row spot house left and waiting out until openers Brass Bambees, on at 8.30. They were a shouty, unfocussed and haphazard mess of what seemingly and sadly passes for post-punk these days, i.e. rummaging through old Fall and Stooges records for monotone and primitive rhythms while a guy in a Fontaines DC shirt shouts the odds. Often a few different time signatures in the same song as well, but with no real flow and coming across like a Frankenstein’s monster of ideas, stitched together for no reason. Nope, not for me.
Took a much-needed break towards the end of their set, then regained my spot and found I was now standing next to Madison from the recent Been Stellar gig (gig 1,329)! Turns out he’s a massive Coach Party fan too, but tonight was only (only!) his 53rd time… Much rock chat ensued while the place filled up, then Jess and Stef led Coach Party on at 9.30, the effusive singer greeting the crowd (“nice to see some familiar faces!”) and kicking into a buoyant and ace-sounding “Micro Aggression”, Stef already rabble rousing in the middle 8 break. The potent pop fizz and ridiculously singalong hook of “What’s The Point In Life” followed, before Stef announced, “I’m so tired! Those stairs! Me and Jess were going to quit!”
Tired or not (and tagged onto the end of a European tour this may have been), but Coach Party were again in fine, ebullient and effervescent form tonight, once again underlining why they’re (along with the other 3 bands I’d mentioned earlier) in the vanguard of the Best Of British right now. And they sounded just great; the in-your-face punk rock noise and ferocious dynamism of the last October’s Thekla gig (gig 1,296) might have been largely reined in tonight, but that was replaced by a precision of delivery and beautiful clarity of sound, giving the Blondie-esque melodies of their eminently tuneful, upbeat and hooky canon an opportunity to really shine. The contemplative melancholy and undulating vocal line of “Born Leader” was a brilliant early highlight, and after Stef teased Jess for not wanting to dance with her (Jess retorting; “I’ll twerk at the merch stand [afterwards]!”) a mid-set “Always Been You” was delicate and quite lovely. The careering thrash of “Can’t Talk, Won’t” was the rockiest in the set so far, proving they could still crank up the volume when required, then after Jess complained about her top popping open (“I’ve had a burger every day [this tour]!”), the dreamy, Alvvays-like “Be That Girl” was probably my set highlight tonight.
Coach Party did however save some
in the tank for a rocking finale; “Breakdown” featured the squalling noise-fest
and Stef’s primal screams; “All I Wanna Do Is Hate” was full-on dismissive
snark; then the double-whammy of Pixies-ish rocker “Feel Like A Girl” and the adrenaline
hurtle of “Parasite” rounded off another superb Coach Party set, full of great
tuneage and a whole lot of fun (the girls in particular giggling and grinning
throughout). A set-list and a nice chat with guitarist Joe, commenting
particularly on how great it sounded tonight, then a visit to that merch stand –
no twerking from the Isle of Wight’s ass, but Jess remarked, “nice to see you!”
as she signed my list – before a slow walk back to the car and home for about
12.30. So glad I decided to do both gigs, and Coach Party have again set a high
bar for themselves for the Guildford August date. Should be another great one
there, from this increasingly special band…
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