shimweasel

I’ve seen The Thaw a few more times since I last posted, and my gushing fanboyism has only increased. They’re ridiculously together for a relatively new band, and refreshingly friendly (even after I called Steph Kath.) Anyway. Gig reports.

First, a festival hosted by the lovely and only slightly loopy people at SheilaFest. As you might gather by reading the minutes (“liable to offend straight lesbians who play golf”?), this was not your standard gig: for one thing, the usual crowd of pale dudes in horn-rimmed glasses was notable by its absence: even after the first few bands played, I was still one of only three guys in a beautifully rambunctious crowd. I’d dragged along Madeleine as some kind of feminine armour, but it turned out to be unnecessary - they’re a very friendly group of people. Babymachine played first, and I’m having trouble describing them: they’re a lesbian rock act, but all the adjectives I can summon are “straight rock” and “ballsy”, neither of which fit well. AC/DC go carpetmunching? I don’t know. Fun, regardless - I had no idea songs about living in a regional centre could be so much fun.

I’m going to skip describing Jemima Jones in too much depth, because I’m trying to cut down on the whingeing I do here. I’m sure she’s a lovely person, and she’d have to be to get a spot on that bill with those musical talents. Very few people can make an acoustic guitar + voice sound interesting outside the confines of a campfire kumbayah, and she is not one of that rarefied breed. I’m sure it was hard growing up, Jemima, but can’t you just get a blog that no-one reads like the rest of us?

Milk looked to be more of the same: two girls in devastatingly frumpy attire, kicking it folk-style. Seeing this, Mad left, leaving me to the tender mercies of the assembled lesbians. Thankfully, halfway through their opening dirge, they stopped playing, stripped off the floral rags, and started playing something that more closely resembled music. Funny and sad and melodic and entirely worth checking out again.

To my shame, I can’t actually remember the next band that played. They weren’t outrageously good or outrageously bad, so I really just forgot about them.

The Thaw slayed foolz: Kat the drummer is inventive as fuck, and just following the beat was liable to induce epilepsy. I find it difficult to verbalise how much I like this band. Frankly, I think even they’re embarrassed - when I asked them if they’d autograph my copy of their Bruce Lee EP, they asked if I was sure I wanted to ruin it. Beautiful noise, terrific rhythms, and even the odd spot of melody for the more traditional listener. Lovely.

There was another band after the Thaw called Bracode, but I was sated and went home. Not very rock, but who wants hamburger when you’ve just had steak? (Hm. I think they’re all actually vegetarians, so they probably wouldn’t appreciate that analogy, but this is my blog and I can say what I like. Back off, The Thaw, I like you, but I’m still my own person!)

Peace.