LIVE REVIEW: JAWS, THE BULLINGDON, OXFORD 27TH APRIL
- May 22, 2017
- 2 min read
I think going to see one of your favourite bands live can sometimes be like the expression “never meet your heroes”. In your nut you think of these people as more than mere mortals, they’re guitar/stick/microphone wielding super humans that can do no wrong. Then you see them live and it doesn’t sound like the king of fuckshit mountain, it sounds like nan doing Christmas karaoke. So a few weeks back we went to see Jaws at The Bullingdon in Oxford. The train journey up was a tad twitchy, they’ve been a personal favourite since they came on the scene way back in 2012 and the anticipation was rising.
But by fuck was there no need to worry, Jaws blew my swede clean open, their nostalgic, tropical vibe translates incredibly well into a live setting. They played all the classics I was afraid they weren’t going to, with fan favourite ‘Stay In’ making a well-received cameo around half way through the set. They were on for the best part of an hour going through new and old; their first EP ‘Milkshake’, first album ‘Be Slowly’ and most recent, sophomore album ‘Simplicity’ all got taken to China town.
Jaws can be known for their softer edge with songs like ‘17’, ‘The Invisible Sleep’ and ‘NYE’. I wondered how these tracks would sound live and even if they’d fit. In reality they were a nice break and offered something different than your usual 1000 mile an hour set, especially since they were mixed in with some faster, heavier stuff like ‘Be Slowly’ and ‘Just a Boy’.
They finished the set with personal favourite ‘Gold’, it was a cacophony of glorious ‘90s-esque guitar sounds played faster and louder than on record. Kids went mad, beers went flying and I hit the deck of a strangely heavy mosh pit! If Geoff had been there I’m sure he’d have been saying ‘he’s landed awkwardly, but he’s a tough cookie and should be able to carry on’.
The Bullingdon’s a glorious little venue, perfect setting for a ‘propa’ gig experience! Nice and compact, great staff and brimming with weird and wonderful people. The vibe was incredible, there wasn’t a soul not dancing or hovering their arm in the air with a FB live video going. God I fucking hate them people! Inflatable bananas were being launched around the room as this intimate little utopia transformed into one huge transcendent dancefloor. Jaws tend to shy away from the music industry’s headlines, working in the shadows like a deadly, infectious toxin. Despite this humble approach they’ve still managed to cultivate an astounding loyal following, which speaks volumes. They don’t need the corny rock and roll attitude or edgy façade, they let their music do the talking for them. If you’ve still not been to see Jaws live then you’ve missed out on an extremely valuable life experience. Don’t miss them this festival season, you’ll regret it!
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