Tapes 'n Tapes

“Show us your pubes!” is not the kind of phrase you would expect to hear at a Tapes ‘N Tapes gig. Despite some ladies attempting to court the bunch through further outcries, very brief on-stage dancing and some good old rock'n'roll clichéd breast bearing, Tapes ‘N Tapes didn’t seem the least bit phased.

Let’s backtrack a little…..

SubAudible Hum were first up on the bill. Their live shows have developed and grown dramatically since I saw them last. Their stage presence is enigmatic; they seem to entice an audience with what appears to be minimal effort.

SubAudible Hum have a hypnotising quality to them; the same hypnotising quality a lonely old man would have over a bunch of trashy gold diggers. They are unlike all the other bands doing the rounds at the moment, for their simplistic melodic ideas work well. Drones caused slight levels of suspense and anticipation; which then progressively lead into well developed climaxes which at times were breath-taking.

The mystique of Theredsunband followed. Theredsunband make music that is moody, pretty and has a pleasant lyrical quality to it, however in my eyes their shows offer nothing more than what is offered on recordings. At times there were well-suited moments of minimalism which effectively built some tension. At times they hinted at intense and emotive moments but it was all just a tease.

No sooner than Tapes ‘N Tapes were greeted by cheers did they begin to play music. The set opened ever so energetically with much gusto and enthusiasm displayed in the ever bopping and continually smiling nature of the foursome.

Tapes ‘N Tapes are very vivid and energetic. They play with an air of modesty and simplicity, yet their body language; the jumps, the frantic movements and the slightly eccentric prances contribute to a charm, with its irresistible qualities forcing the crowd to join in with the fun also. Throughout the set’s entirety there was a healthy bunch of dancers spread around the club, with polka-like movements in an up and down bopping motion proving a favourite.

Just drums, Cowbell, Insistor and other album numbers made the set, with those aforementioned being crowd favourites, causing even more indie kids to move about.
If you’ve listened to Tapes ‘N Tapes and attempted to envisage the live energy that would accompany their songs, that’s exactly what you get.

Tapes ‘N Tapes have such a strong and raw live energy that it surpasses their recorded material.

The next time Tapes ‘N Tapes pop round, don’t let them pass by without catching a glimpse.

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