MELT DUNES
THE DSM IV
Gig number 2 at the Prince Albert, I was not going to miss though. The DSM IV are the latest project of former Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster frontman Guy McKnight. I arrived just in time to see Strange Cages for the second time and I still can't say they do anything for me. Their particular brand of '60s psyche rock and Hawkwind stylings not quite cutting it for me.
The DSM IV took to the stage to complete silence, the audience appearing to be here more out of curiosity than expectation. Whereas Eighties Matchbox were an energetic and frenzied live act, this was a much more sedate affair. A sparse drum machine in the background and a slow but hypnotic opener set the mood for the evening with Guy seemingly on edge and ready to explode in rage. He called to the audience to 'come on', prowled the stage like a caged tiger and frequently wandered among the crowd looking like he might attack someone at any minute. At one point a he flung a plastic bottle at a couple who seemed more into their conversation than watching a band. There was a brief thank you for coming out at one point and a warmer reception for debut single Racist Man, but no big finale or old hits. A band to watch certainly, and Guy still has that dangerous aura around him but the band it seems has a much more considered approach.
POP WILL EAT ITSELF
'80s Grebo faves PWEI were back in town and delivered exactly what one would expect. A set full of fan favourites, a couple off their more recent albums, a lively audience and Utah Saints DJ'ing as a warm up. Had the band lost their edge yet? Not a chance. As they've aged and since Mary Byker has been in the band they've only gotten more political and angrier. It may still seem odd to have Clint Mansell missing but he's too busy writing hugely acclaimed soundtracks for Hollywood movies, and Mary is about as perfect a replacement as you could wish for. His presence and stage craft maybe stronger than other vocalist Graham's in the same way Clint's was, but like Clint, he always makes sure to never take over too much. It may be that the hits have dried up and they are even more at odds with current musical trends than ever before but it's easy to underestimate how quietly influential they were. As if to underline this point, their final song last night was Their Law, their collaboration with The Prodigy from Music For The Jilted Generation. A song that seemed to set them template for both acts and had they not split up in 1996 they could have sat alongside The Prodigy as Industrial Dance music champions.
That just leaves one last gig for the year - All Better's Britney Spears covers night at the final ever Sticky Mike's show
