PORRIDGE RADIO - DANA GAVANSKI
Having had my face melted by Pigs x7 and Kulk on Friday and been blown away by the massive slick-but-self-aware pop show of Self Esteem on Sunday, I approach NAC tonight with a degree of trepidation. How can another DIY indie-rock band match up to those experiences? Well, Porridge Radio is not just another indie-rock band. But more of that below.
First up is DANA GAVANSKI. A singer-songwriter from Canada but based in London, Gavanski plays guitar backed by keys from James and (I think) Tom on drums. The sound is a kinda melancholy, low-key indie-meets-jazz. It somehow reminded me both of Sea Power and Fiery Furnaces but without really sounding like either. The performance is loose almost to the point of sloppiness but it all rather endearing. With decent songs, an appealing voice and an engaging stage presence, I will definitely be seeking out Dana Gavanski again.
As I’ve said and without wishing to imply that music is a spectator sport, I couldn’t see how PORRIDGE RADIO would excite me to the same degree as my previous two gigs. They had proved me wrong by the time Dana Margolin was repeatedly declaiming “thank you for leaving me, thank you for making me happy” whilst strumming the outro to opening song Born Confused.
Margolin’s voice has something of Courtney Barnett about it, with some Nick Cave testifying, whilst her guitar meshes sixties fuzz with shoegaze. Georgie Stott’s keyboards could be straight out of an early-80s electronic act. Maddie Ryall’s bass is minimalist but has an inventive groove. The surprise element is drummer Sam Yardley, whose playing is subtle but hard-hitting when needs be. In his quieter moments, there are hints of jazz and Western swing. Definitely not the biscuit-tin snare and double bass drum assault I’d expect from someone wearing a Death – the uber-death metal band, not the character from Sandman – sweatshirt before and after the set!
All told, a cracking set from a great band. If this lot aren’t all over next summer’s festival circuit and going stratospheric, there is no justice.
