Courtney Barnett
One of the best shows so far of what is already a good year for gigs
Spring King are a grungy lo-fi power-pop four-piece, with a sound that recalls both US Alt and Brit C86, taking in the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, Wedding Present and They Might Be Giants. There’re also hints of Peel favourites Jacob's Mouse and that not just because they have a singing drummer. Half decent, good fun and hardly original, but they get better as the set progresses. (7/10)
Like the new LP Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometime I Just Sit, Courtney Barnett's live show opens with Elevator Operator. Despite being billed under the singing guitarist's name, this is definitely a band performance, with Bones and Dave being there to provide far more than simply an anonymous rhythm section. The album has already established itself as a firm favourite with this reviewer. Live, songs like Pedestrian At Best, Depreston and Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go The Party are more strident and dissonant than that album but perhaps even more exciting, whilst older songs like Avant Gardener show that Sometimes is not a flash in the pan.
One of the best shows so far of what is already a good year for gigs. (9.5/10)
