Live Review

The Breeders – Nottingham Trent Students Union Bar.

• 11th Apr 2008

Well who’d have thought it hey, Kim & Kelley Deal and their Breeders (TB) buddies here in Nottingham. Hurrah!!! And despite the fact the gig didn’t sell out, the turnout is respectable. The somewhat subdued crowd have just been treated to a pleasant surprise in the shape of a fantastic warm up set from Jim Noir (live review here [link] ) but miserably fail to hide the fact that 99% of everyone here tonight are here for TB. The stage is set, the guitars are tuned, the lights are dimmed and all wait with restless anticipation, basking in the splendour of what must be a 1000’ Breeders banner hung just beyond the stage upon to which they march with predictably rapturous and welcoming applause.

Kim & Kelley, Jose (drums), Mando (bass) and Cheryl (keys/guitar/vocals) stand front stage and their understated presence is odd given that they face the crowd like a wall of professional, determined musicians (with 4 guitars folks, screw you Radiohead!!!). Though it’s not too long before the laughter breaks out as Kelley almost starts the gig by picking up the wrong guitar! And after an effervescent Kim openly displays her mock disgust upon discovering that none of the audience has ever been to the oh so cool Ohio, it’s time for lift off.

It’s painfully clear from the outset that ‘familiarity issues’ surely haunt the band. The notably non-responsive crowd reservedly cheers after the undeniably tight knit execution of the opening 2 tracks, abundant with sweet guitar interplay and full-on accompaniment. Not without Kim noticing the reservation though, who casually, with her sister, discusses the groans, moans and sighs they often hear whenever they announce that a new song is gonna be played. However, unfazed and onward we go. And you’ll have to forgive my incomplete set-list inclusion; I can’t recall all of them you know!

Even with kickass guitar and an accessible chorus of “I love no-one and no-one loves me” being repeated amidst a track that’s honestly not too dissimilar from the LP version, it isn’t enough to engage the crowd. Kelley and her hand clap solo, open to crowd participation, draws too little too late interest before the songs close. Come on people!!! Again, another track slides by seemingly unnoticed, although it has to be said that Jose (who could be your slipper wearing, cocoa drinking, football watching dad) rode his kit like a monster!

‘Divine Hammer’ instantly registers strong and true with the audience, who I should mention that despite their despondency, are taking nothing away from tonight’s indestructible, albeit electric vibe, and at long last, the bodies resume some motion that was lost from earlier. Sharp as you remember it, the track closes with a sinister undertone dragging it inward. The smirk that’s been on Kim’s face throughout now shifts to a beaming, love radiating smile and it’s more than heart-warming to behold. And perhaps I’m not the only one to notice! Before the band can proceed, we have an open declaration of love for Kim, voicing the feelings of many a happy boy and girl here tonight (trust me I know about these things!).

As the seemingly slack-jawed crowd faces front in unison, admiring Kim’s cross stage use of sibling/lady telepathy to sync’ Kelley’s guitar, the room begins to subconsciously sway side to side along with the next mellow yet attention snaring track which induces a David Lynch–like sense of surrealism to the whole room. Sweet! It sneaks by with little, long lasting effect and as I look around me, the surrounding mob is mesmerized.

Kelley’s mistressful slide guitar and Kim’s vocal are all to be heard now as Cheryl vanishes, leaving both Mando and Jose to serve merely as spectators for what must be a 2 minute ‘No Aloha’ intro. Then…raaaggh!!! The track goes into orbit and everyone is caught up in its backlash as the evenings highlight goes on its startling way. We just catch the tail end of a sentence concerning a ’64 Camarro before ‘We’re Gonna Rise’ and its awesome guitar kicks in to wash over what is still a strangely sedate and apparently stubborn crowd.
As Mando swaps basses, picking up what Kim comically argues to be her gorgeous guitar, the band and onlookers alike enjoy the tongue in cheek (100% for Kim?) debate between the 2. ‘Walk it off’ follows and is again almost identical to the LP version, so if you’ve got the CD, crank it up at home and get the same effect , relish the stunning guitar/silence refrains that joyously interject with one another. Hot damn they’re good!

Kim, without further emphasis or explanation, tells of she walked around town today and saw a castle, like the ones they have back home…only not white! Endearing us further to the charismatic character that crackles beyond that ever present smile, it’s no surprise to hear from the loved up chap from earlier who now proposes marriage! And honestly, who can blame him?! However, another blistering, manic track soon distracts all from the evenings romance. And then… then comes the money shot of tonight aural movie, the track that almost everyone paid their £17 door entry to hear live, yes it’s Cannonball.

Again like ‘Divine Hammer’ it’s just how you recall and any of the now frenzied bordering maniacal folk who have live bootlegs will surely feel like they’re featuring on one of their own CDs. The track hasn’t aged at all and though I can’t see a re-release occurring, it would be ace to see today’s chart frequenting bands and the guitar and gob armed boys (you know who you are!) who make them, going up against primetime Kim. Heck, it would be even better to see ‘em take on a current day Kim. No, let ‘em deal with Kelley, she’s far more of a loose cannon I’m willing to wager! Anyways, on with the article, that’s enough dreaming Ant.

Keeping the excitable crowd roused, ‘Happiness is a Warm Gun’ follows, seeing Kelley take lead vocal as Jose lays down his sticks to de-cramp his legs, letting the others crack on! We’re treated to yet another stunning display of how to perfectly execute a track and its hectic, ever shifting construct… “Mother Superior jump the gun”…everyone sing! Class I tell you, sheer class. But wait what’s this?
Ah, ‘Iris’ keeps the merriment jet powered, reaching top zooming speed with superb percussion (good to have you back Jose!) and its blazing midway groove fuelled engines. Kim accidently steals the spotlight after the track has finished as she simultaneously thanks the crowd whilst momentarily losing her plectrum, watching helplessly as it flies through the air without any permission from ground control.
A sneakily sore throated Kim let’s her sis’ take over the vocals once more on ‘I just wanna get along’, a crowd pleaser despite Kelley declining her guitar duties and leaving Kim to her own private hoe down!

‘Saints’ follows Kim’s enquiries into just what it is that a crowd member’s drinking from, (“What is that… Is that a flask you’ve got?”) Before realising it’s not so remarkable after all, throwing her head back with laughter to illustrate the absurdity of it all! And besides, a band member has just announced they’re going to be rockin’ barefoot, which is obviously enough to distract even the most professional drinking vessel analysts! Whilst I’ve been rattling, Mando has become vocal whilst Cheryl is motionless, perhaps building up her stage-fright defiance as she looks down on the gathering. Good on her!

Amidst the sublime tempo shifts of the next track, there’s some prominent feedback coming from a bemused looking, Kim facing Kelley. It exquisitely overpowers all and Kelley loves it! Not sure Kim does though! “We’re gonna tune some guitars and come right back” announces Kim and surely enough they re-appear for an encore after a short, clap riddled interim.

Choking amidst the giggles induced from a playful session with the echo effects at hand, Kim pre warns us of a new weird song which turns out to be ‘Overglazed’, a track which Jose particularly seems to relish. Kim has a play on the keys, smiling as always in-between that and her increasingly arduous vocal duties. My personal favourite part of the song is the silent nod outro she adds, after all the musical accompaniment has ceased, before continuing with the echo based fun that she openly admits could keep her happy all night. Clearly a playful perfectionist indeed!

Mando and the Deals are the only participants in thoroughly enjoyable ‘Here no More’, enhanced with Kim calling herself a crazy witch in light of her 3,2,3,3, count-in. Kelley being none the wiser as to just what song is coming next or as to just what Kim is doing at all, is all very giggle worthy too! With her tongue firmly sticking out of her mouth, Kim concentrates on the task at hand before exchanging some exact vocal interchange with Kelley, now with her hands behind her back in an almost angelic pose as she intermittently sings her heart out. Kickass!

The evenings fun comes to an all too sudden close with ‘German Studies’ and its ‘Satanic’ chorus that’s provided by Cheryl who’s teasingly branded (by Kim) a loser for being Floridian! The Deutsch lyrics are delivered from all the ladies in razor sharp sync’ and it’s something of a spectacle to behold. With a simple thank-you from Kim, a shake of the hand from Kelley, a set-list handout from Mando and a wave from the others, the rock ‘n’ roll storm passes, leaving nothing but internal sunshine for the beerless kind…yes, even the bar’s shut!

So, in reflection… Kim’s huskier voice which went the distance has aged wonderfully, perhaps more so than her delivery which is still energetic nonetheless. And yes the years may’ve physically transformed her into a missing Magic Numbers band member, but we’re certainly not going to hold that against her are we? As for a perhaps more life worn (in an appealing way I might add) Kelley well, throughout the gig it seemed that she was taking some subliminal direction from Kim, though I now feel that I were mistaken. It’s some kinda struggle for dominance between Kim’s secretive but not entirely hidden love of calm and quiet that’s tirelessly pitting itself against Kelley’s lust for the thrill that only comes with feedback and frantic tomfoolery. Sisters hey!

Multi instrumentalist Cheryl reminds me of Newton Faulkner with her (interpret this how you will!) dreaded ginger hair. And though she was without doubt the most reserved band member on the night, she can perhaps take some consolation in the fact that emphatic bassist Mando and Jose the stix monster know, despite their open yet restrained cheekiness, not only where the Deal sisters buttons are, they know not to touch, maybe not even to stare at them for too long! But on the whole, as a team, they’re regular guys just like you and I… quirkily damaged here and there, but certainly not enough to dampen any celebratory occasion like playing live in Nottingham. Breeders Breeders Breeders!!!