Blackwood
Miners- 21.10.00
It’s about ten
thirty on a Saturday night and there’s this guy curled up into a ball, screaming on
the floor. How'd he get there? Does he need our help? Should we feel sorry for him?
Hell no, ‘cos he’s Som Wardner, and he’s right where he wants, no
needs, to be. “Music’s my catharsis, an outlet.” Som once told the music
press. He wasn’t kidding, and as he grinds his head against the slate black stage you
get the feeling that it’s doing more good than harm.
My Vitriol always cull
their sets in a maelstrom of bitter and stroppy anger, but not before delivering all
that’s required to support such theatrics.
Tonight is no different,“Always Your Way” and “Losing Touch”
are soul swellingly fantastic, each following in the wake of its own purpose built intro.
Mid set brings three new additions, “7/8”, “Darker” and
“Infantile”, all of which easily keep pace with the setlist regulars and
strongly hint at a glorious debut album.
With each song the line
between stage and crowd has become increasingly blurred. Speakers are restrained and
Som’s mic is reset after being jabbed into his teeth during one particularly frenzied
assault. All vital equipment is lashed down, then “Tongue Tied” threatens to
shake the lovingly mounted pictures off the walls. Threatens to break its own imposed
silence, then does. Amidst this chaos Som’s guitar is left for dead and he heads
floor wards, Seth falls back onto his knees, Carolyn dips even lower and Ravi attempts to
fuse drums and sticks into one. Caustic, cathartic, fantastic.
Intro.
Always
Your Way
Cemented Shoes
Grounded
Intro.
Losing Touch
7/8
Darker
Infantile
Pieces
Tongue
Tied
PHOTOS OF THIS GIG