Thursday 19th February @ Cargo, London
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Thanks to the wonderful work of the Upset the Rhythm gang, London has been graced by some of North America’s best new bands. Recently we’ve had High Places, Crystal Stilts, Wavves, Women and tonight it’s Parts & Labor. This is Upset the Rhythm’s 199th show according to Dan Friel, on keys and vocals for the headliners, and here’s to another two-hundred shows. Brighton three-piece Cold Pumas open, excelling under the defunct disco ball. Their triangular sound contains two guitarists, Oliver Fisher and Dan Reeves, and vocalist/drummer Patrick Fisher. At the point of their blockbusting finale they’ve gathered a decent and receptive audience which includes impressed-looking Parts & Labor members. They’re a band to keep an eye on.
Parts & Labor begin their set as Receivers does, ‘Satellites’ surges through Cargo’s gig room, dragging punters closer to the stage with each humongous chorus. This band has an impressive sound, the first thing that grabs you is the epic wave of cymbals and keys, but Receivers’ finest moment is the incendiary guitar riff on ‘Solemn Show World’, cutting through this gargantuan sound. Sarah Lipstate wields the axe, she’s superb. There’s also something of an eighties synth-vibe to these tunes, with Dan Friel all smiles as he busies away at his desk of pedals and wires. It typifies the wholesome nature of Parts & Labor – there really is something for everyone.
The front of the audience is a sight to behold, accentuated by the flitting of one fan’s red mohawk, bassist BJ Warshaw succumbs and joins in, raising his bass aloft like a knight of super pop. London is renowned for its quiet audiences, and there is a split second of complete silence at one point in between songs. But at the encore’s climax – the band make quick work of the traditional two minute split – with Friel throwing his equipment table around like a ship in a storm, the majority of these uptight onlookers are indulging in the mighty hug of Parts & Labor. ROCK!
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