Sways Records @ Independent Venue Week – Soup Kitchen, Manchester 02/02/14

Those who think too many gigs today are tame, stand around and clap approvingly type affairs clearly haven’t been to one of Kult Country’s shows. A staple of the illustriously underground Sways Records roster, the band turned the Soup Kitchen’s basement into a riotous mosh pit, with faces of all ages joining in the fun. One of the previous acts (we’ll leave him anonymous to keep him from trouble) even climbed the central beam to get a better vantage point, obviously an act of adulation for the incredible velocity of atmosphere being generated on stage by front man, Yousif Al-Karaghouli and his band.

It wasn’t all beer soaked madness however. Far from it in fact, with earlier acts Aldous RH, Francis Lung and Bernard + Edith providing – in parts, if not throughout – more sombre, inward feeling music that people did simply stand/sit for, watching and clap approvingly, which can be agreed as being the natural reaction to such delicate and emotive sounds.

Billed in conjunction with local promoters Generic Greeting, this Sways Records show was the summit of Independent Venue Week for Manchester. Though the label is in fact based in Salford (Manchester’s bigger, tougher, older brother), its associated singers and bands thrive in the heart of a city that never lacks in creative ingenuity. The daughter of one of the most celebrated Mancunian musicians, Ian Curtis, was also involved – Natalie Curtis is the label’s official photographer and her work was projected onto the side wall for wandering eyes could prise upon it at will.

Aldous RH began with typical weirdness, in demeanour more so than music. A cover of The Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love” came across with creepy, prepubescent and ghostlike vocals, backed by slow and droning instrumentation. At one point their gangly front man stepped out onto the dancefloor, sweeping his shoulder-length locks around in an intoxicating manner. It was a good early test for the crowd, as things were about to get a whole lot more intimate.

Both times I’ve seen Francis Lung perform, he’s been unwell. Them both being within the last fortnight, it’s safe to assume he’s in the midst of some winter cold or another – get well soon, Francis. Seated at the front of the stage, guitar gripped and hair slicked back pristinely, he ensued with songs infatuated with emotion. He praised the crowd for being quiet and approved of those seated on the floor, which sprung a mass sit down, before honouring calls for “Sold My Guitar”, a tricky to decipher number about freedom that Lung performs without the use of his trusty six string.

Naked (On Drugs) (pictured above) were all about the groove – a psychedelic, rolling groove, for which their drummer and bassist should take ample credit for building. Outside of a band, flares are surely still not “in”, but this bunch’s singer and soprano saxophone player rocked a pair while dancing about the stage and dancefloor like speedy robots.

Fast rising duo Bernard + Edith, who’ve quickly caught the attention of the underground masses of Manchester, performed following the quick announcement of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s tragic death. It was a bizarre interlude, delivered in an unsure tone which definitely made some sectors of the crowd question its authenticity. Still, the show went on, with Edith (aka Greta Carroll) making pronounced movements around the stage, sitting breathy and chirpy vocal sounds in between more conventional singing. Her bantering with the crowd and heartfelt praises for the other performers were truly warming, but their forte came via minor key synths, with long, droning, psyche-industrial sub-bass tones that crashed the crowd into swaying merriment. “Poppy” in particular seems to capture the spirit of this exciting duo, with slow, bassy drums and strange, icy synths matched with chillingly powerful vocals.

Kult Country (pictured above and top) were the evening’s final act, and with good reason. The energy in their songs is truly electric, driven by the collective power of every fellow member. They really turned it up to eleven, evoking the strongest reaction Soup Kitchen’s basement has certainly seen this year, if not for longer. The humming of the amps never stopped, though the band at one point needed to briefly recuperate energy to go on. Al-Karaghouli looked possessed at times as he ripped away at his guitar while leaping in the air – they’re a rock and roll band doing rock and roll things.

Sways is probably the strongest underground imprint in Manchester, and the Soup Kitchen has been confirmed as the city’s finest venue by a number of sources. Collectively, it’s no surprise this was a great evening.

• Photographs courtesy of Preston is My Paris - prestonismyparis.co.uk
• Review by Leon Riley