Post by markwj on Feb 8, 2008 12:49:05 GMT
My Ruin, Die So Fluid, Plastic Toys
Academy 3, Manchester
28/1/08
Things move in cycles and in synchronicities, or so it seems if you choose to take notice. My third time with Dalek last week, when first I’d seen them in Scotland, my third with My Ruin this week, also first seen north of the border. Persuaded to this one, had heard one track of their new self produced album that was “ok” but still had memories of the intense performance they can put in (review of them in Wrexham somewhere in the archives here)
After a whole load of faffing managed to miss the first support entirely, but “electro pop punk”, not particularly bothered. Before too long at all though we had the next and the overall impression was that these probably would have provided an appropriate middle ground between them and the headliners. A three-piece fronted by another ballsy female who also played some excellent dirty, groovy bass lines, she reminded me a bit of Jacqui from Devilish Presley. My friends were impressed by her voice, I by her thigh muscles as she bent herself over backwards. Together with a solid guitarist and a rock-tastic drummer at times a tune would strike the spot with its driving rhythms ultimately it was still a bit too poppy, a bit stylistic for me. Like a My Ruin-lite.
Already an uncompromising individual and band, there have been upheavals and obstacles since they last played. Tairrie B is obviously the mainstay at the front, her husband remains on guitar but they’ve had to draft in a new rhythm section. Added to that she was in a serious car crash in the last year but while she starts out wrapped up in a furry coat once warmed up it’s evident she is still fiery as ever. Over the grinding backing of an up-tempo bluesy hardcore she is a veritable force of nature, a fury, expressing the strength of her own beliefs. In contrast to her aggressive vocals she is humorous and warm in her banter. She even picks out a guy she thinks she recognises in the crowd, he’s just a committed fan who’s been at all the gigs. A reflection of a lot of the inspiration and admiration she engenders, the female proportion of the crowd is at least half which is a rarity in metal orientated gigs. She recalls her last time at this venue was fronting Manhole in the early 90’s, getting thrown off a Fear Factory support slot due to domestic difficulties between her and their singer, their next gig had been due to be at the Tiv where I still saw the rest of the bill. There’s also a bit about her close shave in the car crash which leads into the slower but equally cathartic “Through the wound” during which she peels down her long gloves and displays the mangled, skin grafted remains of her forearm. I have empathy, almost losing mine due to my ex-wife crashing the car (she was probably hoping for a better result) and where would I have been without it? I need two hands for my favourite pastime after all... Anyway, what better demonstration of channelling the trials of life into explosive creative release, she sings of “’The Beauty Myth” and her repeated attraction remains the force of her personality. Though their visits may be rare they will probably remain on my regular attendance list.
Academy 3, Manchester
28/1/08
Things move in cycles and in synchronicities, or so it seems if you choose to take notice. My third time with Dalek last week, when first I’d seen them in Scotland, my third with My Ruin this week, also first seen north of the border. Persuaded to this one, had heard one track of their new self produced album that was “ok” but still had memories of the intense performance they can put in (review of them in Wrexham somewhere in the archives here)
After a whole load of faffing managed to miss the first support entirely, but “electro pop punk”, not particularly bothered. Before too long at all though we had the next and the overall impression was that these probably would have provided an appropriate middle ground between them and the headliners. A three-piece fronted by another ballsy female who also played some excellent dirty, groovy bass lines, she reminded me a bit of Jacqui from Devilish Presley. My friends were impressed by her voice, I by her thigh muscles as she bent herself over backwards. Together with a solid guitarist and a rock-tastic drummer at times a tune would strike the spot with its driving rhythms ultimately it was still a bit too poppy, a bit stylistic for me. Like a My Ruin-lite.
Already an uncompromising individual and band, there have been upheavals and obstacles since they last played. Tairrie B is obviously the mainstay at the front, her husband remains on guitar but they’ve had to draft in a new rhythm section. Added to that she was in a serious car crash in the last year but while she starts out wrapped up in a furry coat once warmed up it’s evident she is still fiery as ever. Over the grinding backing of an up-tempo bluesy hardcore she is a veritable force of nature, a fury, expressing the strength of her own beliefs. In contrast to her aggressive vocals she is humorous and warm in her banter. She even picks out a guy she thinks she recognises in the crowd, he’s just a committed fan who’s been at all the gigs. A reflection of a lot of the inspiration and admiration she engenders, the female proportion of the crowd is at least half which is a rarity in metal orientated gigs. She recalls her last time at this venue was fronting Manhole in the early 90’s, getting thrown off a Fear Factory support slot due to domestic difficulties between her and their singer, their next gig had been due to be at the Tiv where I still saw the rest of the bill. There’s also a bit about her close shave in the car crash which leads into the slower but equally cathartic “Through the wound” during which she peels down her long gloves and displays the mangled, skin grafted remains of her forearm. I have empathy, almost losing mine due to my ex-wife crashing the car (she was probably hoping for a better result) and where would I have been without it? I need two hands for my favourite pastime after all... Anyway, what better demonstration of channelling the trials of life into explosive creative release, she sings of “’The Beauty Myth” and her repeated attraction remains the force of her personality. Though their visits may be rare they will probably remain on my regular attendance list.