This was the album launch show for Use The Daylight by Dealing With Damage who were going to play the album in full, but before we get to that we arrived in time to see both the support acts.
Frist on were Middleman who should have probably played in the middle, but this young trio didn't care and got on with blasting our ears from the opening instrumental's angular hardcore. As I guess at what the songs are called The End Of It smacked us in the face with a coruscating guitar line and thundering bass, they didn't mess about as they seemed to be Seeing Red while Running Wild giving the impression that they should be starting to amass a huge following in the next couple of years.
Whatever they had been dreaming About was taut dark and slightly deranged but focused on getting the room going in time for the recent single Go to get us shimmering and shaking as they blasted away at us for the rest of a very entertaining set.
Next on were Onlooker who from looks alone, gave the impression they might the Onlooker's at a dogging session, but right from the opening number this 5 piece from Teeside grabbed us by the balls and wouldn't let go, as the twitchy lurching angularity of opening almost instrumental Status Quo sprang into life, it was clear they are not the sort of band to stand still and play.
According to the setlist the next song was called Tofu as the bands singer Eugene started jumping and bouncing around while howling at us like the next Frank Carter, while I was looking at the Bass player and trying to work out who he reminded me of, or who I'd seen him playing with previously, best guess was Chk Chk Chk or Hot Chip or the sort of band that would support those bands.
Easy Breezy was played at breakneck speed with all the band jumping and careening about the stage blasting at our brains with hints of Baby Godzilla (before they became Heck). Cuppa Tea was the last thing you want to drink while listening to this lot, Brown ale possibly or vodka and red bull to give you the energy to lurch across the dancefloor, as they all do the herky jerky again. Hard Work was certainly what playing as hard and sharp as this is about, so much so that the drummer broke his bass pedal.
Still Eugene was fully pumped up on the Disco Biscuits and claiming he was a bit drunk but not so drunk he couldn't fly through this while doing the jump and wave workout routine, while acting like he's eaten all the Gorilla Biscuits, you couldn't take your eyes off the band as they made the whole room into Onlookers.
They brought the northern Punk Rock rampage to us on Hook-A-Duck that sounded like the bands pick up strategy as the guitarists and bassist seemed to be trying to pull they sharpest moves while playing, contorting rather than cavorting that was the singers aim.
Time was the great healer and destroyer as the bass pedal disintegrated again before they closed blasting the room to pieces on Suburban Dreams that all get washed straight down that Wishing well, this was an powerful balls to the wall set from a band that really need to be seen live.
As Dealing With Damage were playing Use the Daylight in full they had all sorts of special guests with them including the mysterious Eyepad for some of the effects on the opening Sunrise that also features John Ruscoe on Guitar and Charlie Finney on vocals for them to ease into things before Ed Wenn took over on lead vocals and things went off on Walking Backwards Into The Future like These Animal Men on some weird off kilter mission. Ed made it totally clear on Instrument that none of us should ever give up on life like they will never give up on being post-grebo heroes. Bigots Vs The Mad Professor was totally bouncing off the walls with Paul Grier really flying on bass.
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Rinse Repeat Rinse kept the tension up as I wondered who was the Pete that Ed was singing about while James Sherry nailed it on the drums, while managing not to destroy his kit. Keep Moving had a weird sampled intro before almost collapsing in on itself they seemed so excited to be playing it.
We Make Bombs To Feel Safe easily felt like it should be the bands big shout along anthem as they have a go at all the idiots who need a bigger bomb and Cry Jones battled with Ed Wenn for whose guitar sounded more explosive.
It was then time for things to get messier as they were joined onstage by Yootha Today the Menopausecore Gurll group, for Yootha there was a rush to the head, hot flush waving through the audience, as many of us checked if we still had balls or not.
First, They Ignore you featured some great keyboards from Steve Cox (Not the rock DJ) who had been Eyepad's assistant for much of the set as he also triggered much of Liberez Wayne Kramer that led straight into John's gone the bands touching tribute to John Hannon who was the producer of much of the album but who died before it was completed by Pat Collier, they gave out a good few shout outs to both producers both before and after the song that also had some fine keyboards on it.
Seek Shelter had an odd intro before this song about life in a mad past pandemic world and the need to end homelessness crunched at our brains. Write it down was exactly what I was doing, I can even read that in my notes before everything came down on Sunset like they were all drinking cocktails rather than Ed sipping from his flask.
It was no surprise they got an encore and had not really left the stage at the end of the set. The first song of the encore was M a great frazzled indiecore romp that was followed by them racing through Some Colours like they were in a hurry to get to the bar once more.
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