Issue 58 / August 2015

20
Bido Lito! August 2015 Reviews
OUTFIT
VEYU – Gulf
EVOL @ The Kazimier
Turn left at the massive kiwi bird (at least I
think that’s what it is), follow the silver wig/
fan arrangement, and if you stand under the
upside-down Colgate striplight wedding cake,
GULF should be playing in front of you. They
seem to have started with a cover of Get Lucky,
but they haven’t, it’s just an unexpected bit of
funk guitar that fits comfortably in their slightly
proggy sound: that of a prog band doing fourminute
pop numbers, which this five-piece do
pretty well.
A decent audience has gathered by third
number Out There, but even if they’re OUTFIT
fans bagsying a spec for later, they’re not likely
to be disappointed. It’s suddenly clear why Gulf
are supporting: a complex guitar/synth wash
swirling around vulnerable, virile vocals might
bag them a few new devotees tonight.
Next up are VEYU, whose Thom Yorke-esque
vocals, gracing songs with a strong whiff
of the Cure’s Pornography-Disintegration-
Bloodflowers trilogy (read as: long
introductions, lyrics often don’t arrive until
well into the third minute), work well on this
bill. They’re carrying extra timber after their
Sound City appearance, and it lends them a
greater onstage authority. Indeed, Running
has bass so tremendous people could be seen
pulling their socks back up more than once. Also
worth mentioning is The Everlasting, a steadier
number on an epic scale, showing that VEYU
know exactly how long to keep their nervous
energy pent up and when to release it.
To skip to the end briefly, this is a perfect set a cavernous valediction to the stage, tonight is
from Outfit. Seven tracks of new LP Slowness’ tighter and more intense and distracts everyone
twelve get played – this is the launch, after all from the approaching curfew. It’s already five
– and an early trio, Framed, Smart Thing, and to eleven, and the show closes as Slowness
the title track, confirm its strength, sounding does, with Swam Out. From the balcony, it’s
as if the Berkonians have been playing them noticeable that the audience’s attentions have
forever. The first is in a different league of shifted. Staring ahead in blue-lit admiration
song, melodically unpredictable but sounding until now, people are turning to face their
entirely familiar, and single Genderless is simply neighbour, grinning.
fiercely sexy. That said, there’s some adolescent For a band who clearly work so hard arranging
enjoyment in thrashing guitar strings when the and rehearsing, Outfit don’t make it seem like
venerable Spraypaint gets resurrected.
work. They look and sound like they’re playing
It’s a particularly big audience tonight, with for their mates; from an opening paean to the
a few familiars in attendance. Stealing Sheep, Kaz, to the note-perfect performances inspiring
Dutch Uncles, Loved Ones, Natalie McCool and an effervescent audience, it’s clear Outfit feel the
someone I’d have expected to be preoccupied same way. The Kazimier’s last year is also proving
with strategising a way to keep Greece in the to be one of its strongest and tonight’s set ought
Eurozone, but no: that’s deffo Angela Merkel to become part of that posthumous legend.
nodding along to Two Islands. That song, once
Stuart Miles O’Hara / @ohasm1
Outfit (Mike Sheerin / michaelsheerin.photoshelter.com)
HEAVENLY 25
Harvest Sun @ The Kazimier Club & Garden
Since Heavenly Recordings began 25 years
ago it has gone on to become one of the most
highly respected and sought-after independent
labels for fans and musicians alike. Having
spawned the careers of such influential artists
as The Manic Street Preachers, it has consistently
adhered to a well-defined aesthetic and a
commitment to releasing new and innovative
work. With its current roster boasting some of
our local scene’s most exciting acts, it made
perfect sense to have a celebratory bash in one
of Liverpool’s best-loved venues, and so that’s
exactly what Jeff Barrett and co. decided to do.
Taking place across the garden and club
venues at The Kazimier, the daytime events
are staged outside. Despite the bad weather
there is a jubilant atmosphere, and with sets
from DUKE GARWOOD, GWENNO, KID WAVE
and STEALING SHEEP there is good reason for
the cheery vibes. Stealing Sheep’s premiere of
their new conceptual performance Legs stands
out, as they eschew their usual hooky vocal
harmonies to delve into a 25-minute electronic
set complete with colourfully-attired dancers.
As the evening approaches it is time to move
inside and catch London-based five-piece THE
VOYEURS. Their blend of art-school indie rock
is interesting and well thought-out, but there
is a sense that the set never really peaks, and
the crowd seem slightly underwhelmed as it
draws to a close.
Legs (Gaz Jones / @GJMPhoto)
Never ones to leave a crowd wanting,
however, are local group HOOTON TENNIS CLUB,
who burst on to the stage to deliver a frenzied
and memorable romp. Coming off the back of a
storming performance at Glastonbury, Hooton
are fast becoming one of the most talked-about
live acts in the country, and it is clear to see why.
Newly released single Kathleen Sat On The Arm
Of Her Favourite Chair has the audience singing
along in fine voice, a testament to frequent airtime
on BBC 6Music, plus the fact it’s a damn
good song. With a mammoth tour ahead of
them and the release of their debut album in