First up this evening was local artist Adam Harding & Friends. Specialising in the type of grunge/stoner rock noise perfected by the like of Sebadoh main man Lou Barlow’s endeavours in the early ninties, the band proceeded to rip through a deafness inducingly loud set. The band proved highly adept at creating a wall of noise. Unfortunately, this resuslted in Harding’s vocals being all but drowned out in the sound mix. A highlight of their set was when Lou Barlow joined the band on bass for thier final track. An interesting and fitting support act, but unfortunately nothing exceptional or distinguished.
Sebadoh are one of the pioneering bands of the lo-fi scene of the nineties. Tonight, consisting of original members Lou Barlow and Jason Lowenstein, with Bob D’Amico replacing original drummer Eric Gaffney, the band proceeded to rip through a rough, raw and at times utterly shambolic set. This has always been part of Sebadoh’s charm. It is refreshing to see a live act that is still rough around the edges and hasn’t had the life knocked out of it due to being too over rehearsed and slick.
Tonight was plagued by a number of tuning problems with Barlow’s beat up Gretsch guitar. The audience, thankfully, was very understanding, indulging in some good natured banter with the band members while they were tending to their instruments. This included a busted snare drum, during which time Barlow and Lowenstein played quite wonderfully as a duo.
Sebadoh were definitely in noisy mode tonight as opposed to the band’s more melodic side. The influence of Barlow’s other, more high profile, Dinasour Jr, was definitely in effect this evening. Despite the technical issues, there were many moments of utter brilliance with the way the three played together. One can still see, by tonight’s performance, why Sebadoh are still considered to be a strong influence in alternative music. You can still hear shades of their style and approach in bands such as Eddy Current Supression Ring and, of course, the works of Adam Harding, the support act this evening.
Track highlights this evening included a breathtaking early highlight in the form of one of their best known tracks, “Skull”. Other high points during the evening included “Not A Friend”, “Ocean”, the maginificent “Magnet’s Coil” and “Give Up”. The power and passion that the three piece put into what they played was, at times, awe inspiring. At one point, an audience member asked Barlow and Lowenstein if they could play a slow track so the drummer could catch his breath!
The night concluded with the compelling “Willing To Wait”, which Barlow self depreciatingly intruduced as the Sebadoh track he hates! He then went into a story about how the band’s at the time record company, Sub Pop, were pushing this track as going to be their ‘breakout single’ and the one that would make the band household names! The version performed this evening was suitably roughed up and a great deal more raw than its recorded counterpart.
A rough, raw, ragged and thoroughly enjoyable evening with one of the great alternative rock bands of the past twenty years.
– Neil Evans
