Live Review
Glasswerk presents Revelry with Pete And The Pirates – Plug N Play, Reading
Two hundred people huddled in an industrial lock up, organized by something called Glasswerk sounds suspiciously like a 1930s Germanic armaments factory. Lucky the only battle being organized here in the brimming, to capacity venue is a valiant attempt to put Reading back on the frontline of the national gig circuit. Teaming up with Plug n Play studios, Glasswerk are hosting the opening night of the only monthly event in Reading, where you get a chance to see a platoon of national touring treasures and local talent.
Opening proceedings are an intriguing new band of people from two old bands. Okay, it is basically The Trouble With Me with a new front man from recently retired locals, Wire Jesus. There are puzzled looks and mumblings of recognition from the crowd as if people have just been reintroduced to a familiar uncle, fresh from de poll with a new wife and dandy moustache. “We’re not a proper band yet, we haven’t even got a name”, they say. What they do have is fresh crop of tunes full of the playful arrangements and chest beating hooks, like the Editors on a road trip with a ponderous Kings of Leon. Along side the new arrivals, old favourites are given fresh blood in the short set that all sounds naively brilliant and interesting again. As for the name, I suggested The Trouble With Jesus. And they all agreed. Honest.
Next are Tripwires. All the corners are sharpened as they spark with the sort of jolting, angular indie fare that will have your eye out with an elbow as people involuntary dance at 45 degrees. It is faultless and seems choreographed to the point of almost being pointless. Still, add a few bum notes, deprive them of a few days worth of sleep and they will probably have an albums worth of restless hits to short circuit the national grid.
And then we are all treated to a rare chance to see Pete and The Pirates in the middle of a relentless tour. Pleased to be home with a well-travelled album of the year, lapping up heckles from old friends, it is one long, sing along. These are homespun yarns of drunken boredom, heartbreak, escape, hook laden recipes and unbelievably spin tingling odes to cats. That’s right, they even write potential singles about cats. Leaning over the barrier to ruffle hair, guitars played on top of their heads, they buzz with an overload of riffs and practically sweat melody. It is basically everything pop songs should be- exciting, unpredictable, inspiring and life affirming.
And if this isn’t reason enough to venture into Reading’s industrial heartland once a month in the middle of winter, nothing is.