Hard Working Class Heroes: Friday

I said it before, and I feel compelled to say it again at the start of this review. Hard Working Class Heroes is the worst name for a musical festival. Ever. True story: my flatmate who has a passing interest in music, deliberately did not go to this event since its inception for the (admittedly fairly fatuous) reason that it has a shit name. So think about it organiser dudes, rename your festival and get at least one new punter.

My review of the weekend will be a single snapshot of the few bands I saw. There are some acts such as Fight Like Apes and Frightened Rabbit, that I intended to see but didn’t make it to, however. Ian Thrillpier gives some comprehensive reviews , including bands I didn’t see, here, here and here.

Day 1

Dublin Duck Dispensary: The Academy.

They make a wonderful racket do the ‘Duck Dispensary. Bobby dressed up as Santa. Guitarist/keyboardist Karl dressed up as an employee from a 1960s biscuit factory in Manchester. They have a bubble machine stage right. Sadly, they only play for what seems like 30 seconds and at an earlier time than billed, meaning that a good few interested punters land down just as their slightly shambolic, energetic and good-humoured set rocks out to a close. Dublin Duck Dispensary are a band to watch. Think early Pavement crossed with Guided by Voices. Guided by Ducks perhaps?

The Revellions: The Academy.

I stick around to watch The Revellions. With their winkle picker shoes and glossy pudding bowl haircuts, these guys all look like they were cloned from bits of Brian Jones. Unsurprisingly their music is as retrograde as their outfits. It’s competently played, organ driven garage rock that fetishes its influences: The Chocolate Watchband, The 13th Floor Elevators, all that sort of stuff. Its hard to watch something so studiously appropriated without feeling its all a bit of a pastiche.

Super Extra Bonus Party: Meeting House Square.

The biggest downside of the weekend quickly becomes apparent during Super Extra Bonus Party’s gig in Meeting House Square. The sound is freaking terrible. They sound like they are playing through a sponge. Later, Northern Ireland band Fighting With Wire get very disgruntled and make as if they are going to walk off because of this problem. For a group like Super Extra Bonus party, who rely on a noisy party vibe, the poor sound leaves the crowd underwhelmed in spite of their best efforts. It is a shame, and a bad portent for the other big gigs of the weekend.

Days 2 and 3 available here