Wonderswan / We Sell Seashells / Society / Buffalo Bones / Saving Time @ The Packhorse

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The Rock and Roll Circus recording studio celebrated the launch of their compilation, A Collection Of Calamity, with a display of local bands at The Packhorse. The enthusiastic Saving Time opened the night, with their agreeable pop punk; unfortunately the baby-faced quartet battled with the sound system throughout as the amps struggled to handle the heavy distortion. Saving Time’s music felt overly conventional, and some songs could have used a more unique touch.

 

The venue began to fill up as Buffalo Bones took to the stage. There were no outstanding moments but descending riffs were plentiful, and wouldn’t sound out of place in a Wolfmother song. Bones’ singer/guitarist spun out impressive riffs but struggled to match the guitar performance with his vocals. The band’s bass player shone prominently throughout, and Bones’ showed their versatility with a Beck cover. Their honest rock ‘n’ roll was well suited to the scruffy but intimate venue.  

 

Society shuffled their way to the stage with indifference, playing music vaguely reminiscent of Joy Division. The drummer seemed to have learnt his trade from Stephen Morris, but the band managed to make dulcet connections between each song. The keyboard detracted from the other instruments and it was an unpleasant surprise when an inconsequential maraca appeared. Nonetheless they made a statement, if a slightly vague one, through their nihilistic demeanour.

 

We Sell Seashells followed Society’s anti-social performance with a more upbeat set, playing intense and tranquil music with varied and effective shifts in mood. The use of a violin added a welcome note of class to an already impressive sound. The quintet’ lyrics make reference to Buddhism, C.S. Lewis and science fiction, fitting the music to a tee. The religious connotations continued as the lead vocalist sung about “encountering the devil you know”, putting an appropriately religious end to the best set of the night.

 

The final act, Wonderswan, struggled with technical problems for most their set. Though their lyrics were hard to decipher, Wonderswan’s songs still worked in short spurts; at times they resembled a grungier version of the Cribs. The chord changes were seamless and when the band got into a groove, it was listenable but far from transcendent.

 

 

Alex Hopley

 

Tags: Wonderswan We Sell Seashells Society Buffalo Bones Saving Time The Packhorse