Buzzcocks / Drahla

Unity Works, Wakefield on Wed 5th Oct 2016

Drahla are a great new Wakefield band featuring members of various local bands like IMP, Ult Cult and Michael Ainsley Band. They have been touring a lot lately but this is a big gig for them and they take it in their stride. There's a bit of Sonic Youth coming through when Lu's vocals hit, with drums slowly building up to epic sounding finales. They obviously like Joy Division and create awesome garage-y like sounds. I like the switch of axes for Lu and Riggs while Mikey keeps the drum pace. They certainly live up to their name ("Goodness") and with track names like 'Dog Collar Guillotine', 'Definite Gaze' and 'Fictional Decision' they are ones not to be missed. They tour hard too so no excuses!

Buzzcocks are here to kick off their 40th Anniversary Tour ("Buzzcocks 40") and it's straight into 'Boredom', hopefully not a taster of the gig to come! Diggle has his anti-government rants, always sadly relevant. There's times where he is allowed to wander off on his guitar solo duties and he even has time for a costume change for the encore (be it just a T-shirt!) with the title 'Harmony In My Head' that Pete Shelley points to while trying to get the crowd to sing. We are but it's in such a low key I think they think we aren't trying.

'Whatever Happened To…?' and 'Noise Annoys' obviously stand out, but it's the encore where the crowd take off, with 'What Do I Get' and 'Ever Fallen In Love With'. For 'Orgasm Addict' there's even a stage diver who's nearly the same age as the band staples. The drumbeat in 'Moving Away From The PulseBeat' pounded by Danny Farant is astounding. Chris Remington is unassuming but holding the bass fort throughout.

I am unsure ending with 'Harmony In My Head' was the better choice over 'Ever Fallen In Love' as it seems to fall a bit flat after that huge hit, but hey when you're on you're 40th year of this you can do what the hell you want. Plus it's Henry Rollin's favourite Buzzcocks tune so I'm not gonna argue with him! There's a huge roar for the entire show.

The catchy pop melodies with rough guitar and vocals and mean drum playing are just the same as they were 40 years ago. The new songs fit into the set as well as the older songs, showing musicianship to cater for their fans and their style.

The only issue was the horrid feedback, I enjoy a good hum but this was high pitched, like a non-stop human equivalent of the dog whistle. Even with “gig ears' like mine it was painful to stay in the hall.

The stamina shown form this band though is immense, they own the stage like a band a third of their age. Pete Shelley takes a back seat to Diggles engaging presence, with his fist pumping and guitar shredding, but his presence is felt just the same. Here's to "Buzzcocks 50".

Boredom
Fast Cars
Totally From The Heart
I Don't Mind
Strange Machines
Whatever Happened To…?
Autonomy
Girl From The Chainstore
Moving Away From The Pulsebeat
Nothing Left
Sick City
It's Not You
Love You More
Promises
Noise Annoys
You Say You Don't Love Me
Times Up

What Do I Get
Orgasm Addict
Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)
Harmony In My Head

article by: Danielle Millea

published: 11/10/2016 15:11



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