GDFAF #12 was at the Barfly again on what can only be described as an arsingly cold night. I mention this because most venues tend to be somewhat on the warm side and I’ve noticed a few American acts commenting on this, as if venues in the States have radical things like air conditioning. The problem for most Birmingham spaces is they tend to be in residential-ish areas and we have laws against people enjoying themselves at high volume (which on the whole I tend to agree with) so the doors and windows have to remain tightly shut. And they don’t have air conditioning. Stick a couple of hundred excited people in there and the ceilings will sweat. The Barfly, on the other hand, is in Digbeth and to the best of my knowledge there ain’t anyone living there so they can leave the door open. Since the venue is essentially a huge basement said door is near the ceiling and all the heat just rushes straight out. This is terrific on a club night (I remember seeing steam pouring out of that door like a boiling kettle one night) but at a relatively sparsely attended gig it’s rather strange to find yourself dancing in your coat. Must be lovely in the summer though.

Like I said, not a huge turnout for tonight, although this might be more to do with the venue as it is a huge room and there were a good hundred or so people in there by my reckoning. No problems getting in – the bouncers just waved me through with no bag check leading me to suspect my face has been spread around the bouncer network as a non-threat. Either that or I’m starting to give off regular gig-going vibes. Possible tip for people going to the Barfly – when you’re asked which band you’re coming to see say the one at the bottom of the bill and you might get in cheaper. I was meaning to test this only my mind went blank (too many band names whizzing around my head at the moment – I haven’t got a clue who I’m going to see) but give it a go. I’m pretty sure it’ll knock a good 50% off your entry.

On to the bands then. First up was Paisley Riot, the local band supporting the headliners and their touring support. It’s here that I wonder if I’m getting jaded when it comes to guitar bands from the Midlands as while they were very good I find I have nothing really to say about them. They were tight and their hat wearing singer had a nice intensity to him but there was nothing to really make me sit up and take notice. But don’t read too much into my appraisal. I think I’m starting to recognise vocal tics amongst the Brummie / Black Country bands, not in their speech but in their singing which implies I’m getting a little too familiar with the scene. Can’t put my finger on it exactly though. Oh, and this doesn’t just apply to Paisley Riot by any means but bands, when announcing your name and especially when you’re saying your web site address, please speak clearly! I was starting to think this was impossible but Breezer managed to lodge both in my mind last night so it can be done.

Next up were The Rumble Strips and I’m going to stick my neck out here. Of all the bands I’ve seen I think these guys could actually break out and be huge. Firstly they have a look that is unique but quite nostalgic, evoking scruffy 80s bands in a kind of new wave drab way. Secondly their music is a nice mix of styles bringing in keyboards, guitar, saxophone and trumpet in a very enjoyable, dancey way with some key anthemic moments. But most of all the lead singer is a revelation.

He stands there with his drab grey coat and scarf hanging off his sloping shoulders, his hair tussled at the back like he’s just got out of bed and his small guitar seemingly rescued from a charity shop. His huge eyes stare into the room with a permanent squint and he looks both angry and resigned. And yet when he opens his mouth it’s astounding. My immediate reaction was Specials era Terry Hall, but that’s probably the brass pushing that out. There was something else I can’t quite pin down (Billy Bragg maybe?) but the greatest revelation was this guy can actually sing! I don’t just mean he was in tune – his voice had a power that was not assisted by the amps, nor was it mere volume. There was a controlled strength and range that you so seldom see at gigs, his singing primal and raw yet quite quite beautiful.

Backing up this incredible voice was some very competent musicianship that while not afraid to blast it out also knew the value of less. The trumpet and sax players smoothly alternated with keyboard and bass guitar respectively giving them the range of a larger band and the music flew between up-tempo beats and emotional climaxes with ease. They’ve got the whole package and from what I can tell it’s genuine. I really hope to hear more from this band in the next year.

The only downside was a noticeable level of audience chat during their set, to which I can only say shut the fuck up you wankers and recognise genius when you see it.

The headliners, The Young Knives had to compete with this for my affections and all credit to them but they didn’t quite make it. Actually that’s unfair. They were very enjoyable and much better than the audio clips on their site imply. This was mostly to do with their stage banter which pretty much consisted of looking like embarrassing parents and subverting it, playing shouty heavy punk and being quite rude and funny in between. I enjoyed the show a lot – and big joke humour is a tough thing for bands to pull off – but, and this is the big one, after each song I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it sounded like. This was worrying me somewhat as I knew I was going to have to write about them but, nope, nothing stuck. What on earth had a just been bouncing up and down to then? All very odd.

Couldn’t squeeze it in the review but check the Rumble Strips Motorycycle video. The song is keen (though better live) and the video is really really clever. Then let me know who the hell the singer sounds like…

Had an email from the Superglue Queens who I saw last Thursday asking about the photos so for the record: I’m more than happy for bands to use my photos (with credit) but do get in touch as I probably have many more of use that I haven’t uploaded. I’d also be happy to come and see you again and take better ones using a tripod if you’re interested.

The flu seems to have died down though my legs did nearly give way this evening. This might have been to do with the icebox conditions of the Barfly though.

Thursday will be the Flapper with Astilla, The Twang and An Untitled Musical Project (good name on the last one there) while Friday is my first ever visit to the Actress and Bishop for I Am Zeitgeist, The International Karate Plus, Aquila and StrangeTime.

And then it’s all over.