JAWS / NAI HARVEST / PIPEDREAM | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Mon 14 Dec
Having released their acclaimed debut album last year and in advance of a sophomore follow-up in 2016, Birmingham outfit Jaws have so far shown a considerable knack for fusing revivalist surf-rock and quasi-dreampop strands without sounding contrived. With this in mind, Ifor Bach was well attended by a buzzing crowd which had gathered for a glimpse of the trio’s polished brand of jangly indie pop vitality.
Cardiff-based three-piece Pipedream opened the night with a haze of ominous and melancholic fare, the droning vocals of Tom Sanders seeming to resurrect Ian Curtis’s drawl in the all too brief span of the set. Playing tracks from their upcoming LP Secret Beach, they effectively verged between spare, controlled post-punk and the vivacity of the 90s pop punk scene, that the band self-proclaim an influence. As well as galvanising momentum in the room, this proved successful in showcasing the trio’s unique musical reference point.
Recalling the surface veneer of late-80s/early-90s college rock, Nai Harvest have an undeniable kinetic stage presence and sound to match, which flitted between visceral and melodic. Frontman Ben Thompson brought an idiosyncratic and frenzied revelry to the dry ice infused proceedings, delivering signature tunes such as Buttercups and Hold Open My Head with precision and panache. The Sheffield band’s heavy reliance on fuzzy guitar leanings and propulsive drums set a convulsive mood within the room, which provided an ideal set up for the headliners.
Opening with a polished rendition of recent single What We Haven’t Got Yet, Jaws blazed through the near hour-long set, introducing new tracks such as Cast as well as revisiting material from Be Slowly and their previous two EPs. This was greeted well within the ranks of the room, where lead singer Connor Schofield’s acknowledgement of the fans’ support further encouraged positive energy. The collective continued to slickly roll through output such as the mantra-like Stay In and the cascading etheric ambience of Gold, harnessing the familiarity of the latter track to bring a unifying close to an evening that undoubtedly delivered the goods to gig-goers.
words CHRIS HAMILTON-PEACH