LIVE REVIEW: WEIRDS, FACE BAR, READING 06TH APRIL

Well this is overdue, I mean seriously overdue! We’re always usually a little tardy but this one got dropped down the back of the sofa destined for an eternity of dark, dusty exile. Time to brush of the shoulders and get those electric fingers back out for the lovers reunion with my crumb infested keyboard. We dropped by Face Bar, Reading earlier in April to catch up with WEIRDS and subject them to an overly enthusiastic, smoking area interview just moments before they hit the stage. They’ve been on the road with The Wytches for quite some time spreading the seed of their unique psychedelic niche to the masses and it was our turn for a dose.

Bounding onto the stage full of confidence and composure, this Leeds based four piece were ready to show the intimate Reading venue what they’re made of. The crowd started off relatively shy and timid having to be coaxed further forward toward the stage to create that sweaty, tight gig aura. But before long their mammoth sound had taken over stealing the hearts, minds and ears of everyone present. It’s an exciting time for Weirds, their debut album “Swarmculture” is due for release on 26th May and they’ve already dropped a handful of singles that are circulating around online managing to rustle up quite the hype. But it’s without doubt their live prowess that we’re most excited about!

Steely electric synth reverberated off the damp dark walls of Face Bar like a haunted star cruiser. This vivid daze being emitted isn’t quite what you’d expect at first but it soon becomes apparent that this is an integral part of their get up. Wave after wave of murky bass and punchy drums set the tone as the eerie audio accompaniments coming from lead singer Adrian’s keyboard slice through the middle. He glares out at the crowd, with a look that would make even hard-man Danny Dyer himself quiver in bitterly cold fear, before the execution of some of the most perfectly timed breaks I’ve heard in my pitiful 23 year existence. This gust of filthy rain swoops in; riffs, bassline and drums simultaneously releasing hell-bent rage in a light-hearted dancey manner, contrastingly creating a sound that mockingly sits at polar opposite end of the scales from each other. The psychedelic nature of their style sizzles and cracks with vibrant vocals echo’s wailing like an alluring siren. Instruments dive head first into a sludge of black and white vortex circulating and butting heads in a testosterone fueled ‘fuzz off’. The poppy elements of Weirds surface on tracks like “Crocodile” and “Phantom”, there’s still a signature sporadic rush of powerful breakdown but these tracks are led by the sonic size of their edge. “Yolk” starts with someone kicking a grumpy old organ before breaking into a melodic bubble of fiddly riff and chanty lyrical flow. Weirds seem to work off odd tangents; anything they can get away with, within the parameters of auditory enjoyment is clearly tested and explored.

Music talks but showmanship is a huge chunk of the gig pie. Without it the crowd just find themselves staring at a boring set of ‘shoegaze’ turmoil before disinterest settles in and the queue at the bar becomes the focal point of the evening’s entertainment. Weirds have their act down to a fine art, as soon as the sound check starts these lads are in the zone; hair flying about everywhere, headbanging for days, uncomfortable looking keyboard stances and of course the aforementioned stares. It gets taken a step further as we reach the end of the set though when lead singer Aidan comes flying of the stage, mic in hand, bulldozering through the crowd like a Rottweiler with a search warrant for your treats draw. No remorse for anyone who dare even ponder entering his assertive pathway. He ignites a moshpit then runs over to climb up on the shallow roofed bar all whilst screaming to the pinnacle of his lungs capacity. He jumps down off the bar to make haste back to his bandmate brethren; destroying the ankles of everyone, old and young, with his mic lead on the way. He gets within fingertip distance of the stage before being dragged back by the lead just like, dare I say it, a dog on a chain! His tirade continues as he urges people to get the fuck out of his way, if you want to avoid getting your ankles clotheslined I suggest you listen to the man. The ante has been fully upped by this point, the crowd is full of more adrenaline and intrigue then the cast of Jackass. They were SO good that we even managed to forget that The Wytches were up next. Highlight track for us was “Weird Sun”!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwGLYXvJCOE

They’ll skull fuck your mind, but that’s okay. You don’t need to understand how or why they do it just be content in the fact that it sounds like a slither of rock heaven. WEIRDS are a band you CANNOT miss, their debut album is out in just over a weeks time so put it in your calendar “26th May 2017”. Buy it, listen to it, play it to your cat’s brother in law, head to an old peoples home and blare it out of their surround sound system whatever tickles ya’ fancy just share and consume it in some capacity. They’re a lovely group of lads, fantastic musicians dedicated to what they do and it was an absolute pleasure to meet them. Keep doing what you do Weirds XX

Be sure to check out our interview piece with Weirds for juicy new album secrets, guilty pleasures and the key to immortality. G'wan it's killing you to find out what the fuck we're talking about! HERE