Issue 58 / August 2015

22
Bido Lito! August 2015 Reviews
Ariel Pink (Keith Ainsworth / arkimages.co.uk)
August, Hooton Tennis Club are clearly destined
for great things, and based on tonight’s show
they absolutely deserve it.
Another band to seriously turn heads at
Worthy Farm this year were the ever-ebullient
KING GIZZARD & THE WIZARD LIZARD. With
two drummers, three guitarists, a bassist
and a harmonica player, their jazz-infused
psychedelic rock shows are truly a thing to
behold. With constant time changes and
impressive musicianship the songs are played
back-to-back, creating a seamless wave of
sound that hops between melodies and guitar
patterns. A mesmerising display from one of
Australia’s current best exports.
Finishing off the line-up of bands on an
all-dayer which has fulfilled its promise
are grungey three-piece THE WYTCHES.
They emerge to a now fairly drunken and
enthusiastic crowd of revellers and blaze
their way through a selection of songs that
are clearly well known to those present.
However, though it may simply be due to the
sheer quality of acts that have come before
them, the set does appear slightly lacking,
and it is perhaps not the barn-storming end to
the day that most were expecting. It has still
undisputedly been a triumph though, and it is
left to DJ BERNIE CONNOR to play out the night
in typically stylish fashion.
Alastair Dunn
ARIEL PINK
The Vryll Society
EVOL @ District
Having been making records since the early
2000s Ariel Rosenberg, also known as ARIEL PINK,
had gained little recognition outside of his own
musical circles until the release of Before Today in
2010. It was the first LP to be released under the
group title of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, and his
use of eclectic musical styles and experimental
recording techniques gained him much respect
and critical acclaim. Ever since then he has been
making hipsters drool with his zany output and
unhinged live shows, and his latest record, pom
pom, has done little to dampen his appeal.
THE VRYLL SOCIETY are a band plucked from the
current crop of Liverpool talent and make for an
inspired choice of support. Despite some issues
with the sound, which results in lead singer Mike
Ellis’ vocals sounding like, in his own words, a
Dalek, it is a solid showing and one that hints at
great things in the future.
With many devotees now clearly present, a
charmingly dishevelled Ariel Pink takes to the
stage to much fanfare. He begins proceedings
with the irreverent and bizarre Jell-O, a track that
would be well suited to some surreal, acid-soaked
children’s disco. To be honest, this description
could quite readily be applied to much of Pink’s
back catalogue, and serves as a good starting
point for what turns out to be an overtly intriguing
and beguiling performance. Merely two songs
into the set and Pink is berating the audience for
being “fucking stupid and not loud enough”, an
outburst that would probably spell the end of any
good vibes for most performers, but one that is so
intertwined with the onstage persona of the man
that it is not only forgiven but applauded.
Taken from the latest LP, One Summer Night
is a high point, with its memorable 80s horrormovie
intro and bubblegum melodies providing
a backdrop for Pink’s laconic vocal delivery. Never
one to court convention his disparate influences
are always apparent, and this track seems to
encapsulate his appeal to a contemporary
audience fairly well. The songs are ever-hinting
at familiarity whilst distorting and warping these
expectations to create something infinitely
memorable yet faintly disturbing. Kind of like
watching a Christmas film in slow motion whilst
someone starts a small fire in the corner of your
living room.
With the drummer now clad in a leather cowboy
hat and bikini, and the rest of the four-piece band
in full flow, the show has taken on a mutually
enjoyable party atmosphere. The die-hard fans
are clearly having a great time, but those who
have come along purely as a result of word-ofmouth
will also be suitably impressed.
Alastair Dunn
LIV-BCN
The Kazimier Club and Garden
It’s a cliché, but given that this is the UK
leg of a festival held between Barcelona and
Liverpool – and that the Kazimier Garden is full
of Spaniards (/Catalonians!) – it’s only fair to
mention the weather: the skies are eggshellhued
and it’s raining profusely. Happy July,
BATHYMETRY, who have the difficult job of
holding a crowd who are still mostly off-thestreet
punters at this time in the afternoon. As
such, their very casual style isn’t a hindrance,
and their slightly stoned 60s guitar and ants-inyour-pants
stop/start basslines eventually draw
appreciation from the be-ponchoed audience.
There’s also a song in Cornish, which could be a
roundabout show of solidarity with the Catalan
independence movement. Maybe.
Next up is PAU VALLVÉ, who treats us to a
varied run of songs ranging from introspective
picking that leaves room for slight, melodic
vocals, to thunderous loops of percussive
strumming with a strong flamenco feel. Despite
this, it doesn’t feel like a token ‘world music’
crossover. Comparisons with José Gonzalez
would be lazy – a better comparison would
be Damien Jurado. It’s common to see singersongwriters
getting worked up in the space
of three minutes, with the results sounding