PIP BLOM | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Thurs 6 June
Pip Blom and her band are only young and their first album only came out this year, but the praise from the 6Music crowd has already been heaped and is readily given. Pip has an undeniable knack for writing strong melody-driven songs with that Pixies/Breeders flavouring which has defined alternative rock ever since those bands were around – a clean and restrained production on their early singles, and a new album Boat that places them prominently in the company of other indie-poppish acts that come through the channels.
Seeing them live, though, surprised the hell out of us. Pip Blom are actually a front for a punchy sugar-rush power-pop unit, a garage alt-rock experience with the no-filler quality of the sole album by The La’s or Redd Kross’ Neurotica. Without the veneer of a studio, Pip’s catchy songs come off like the fictional Sex Bob-Omb band in the Scott Pilgrim movie: all oomph and charm and no fuss, just how it should be, and the crowd were totally inspired by it. Songs like Daddy Issues and Tinfoil take on a brand new life upstairs in Clwb Ifor Bach when the songs are allowed to stand up and speak for themselves.
The band are clearly super into their own material and tight as a nut musically, and it was all so wholesome how they were having so much fun with the music and with each other, and how the crowd adored them, or how Pip’s mum was there in the front row and had been all tour. Mother and daughter hurried straight to the merch stall after the last song with huge smiles for everyone who came up. A 45-minute set (the newness of the material meaning that was about all they had in their locker) finished, but we all wanted more anyway. Maybe next time.
words JASON MACHLAB photos SIMON AYRE