Tonight’s headliners blasted onto the scene from almost nowhere some two years ago with their heavily acclaimed debut New Brigade, since then the band has been shrouded in controversy due to apparent fascist leanings, which although denied by the band still have the potential haunt them.
Step forward to excellent latest album You’re Nothing and Iceage have trumped all these reports by showing that they’re not just some flash in the pan that can be destroyed by loosely founded and hopefully untrue rumours.
First up tonight though are the increasingly active local three-piece Garden of Elks who set the tone for a breathless evening as they explode through a set full of fast paced lo-fi rock.
It’s difficult to pin point a set influence in Garden of Elks’ set but there are a few smatterings of one Glasgow’s latest exports PAWS and a slight nod to Steve Albini in some their frontman’s vocal deliveries.
However, it is the combination of his almost spoken delivery and their female drummer’s distinctive high yelp that give these guys an instant charm, and with a few toe tapping rhythms thrown in these guys certainly have the potential to be one of the next Scottish bands hitting a wider audience.
No Island continue to raise that intensity level as frontman Chris McGlynn throws everything he has at the growing crowd, the mike and basement venue taking somewhat of a beating in the process as he smashes the mike off floor and ceiling as he struts around in front the stage somewhat resembling a giant bearded toddler throwing a strop.
McGlynn throws himself into the crowd and fire exit on numerous occasions as he calls for moshing, and almost gets it from a few overly enthusiastic audience members, before giggling that he saw someone wearing a Slipknot top in the room earlier.
This Glasgow four-piece are carving themselves a cult reputation as one of Glasgow’s most entertaining live bands and from this performance it’s easy to see why, as they power through forceful, high octane hardcore blasts leaving little room to breathe.
Before tonight’s headliners take the stage there is the unexpected addition Puce Mary, who stands a lone figure in the centre of the stage tweaking a few knobs behind her desk of gear delivering a short set of apocalyptic soundscapes.
Mary somewhat resembles Claire Danes of Homeland fame but thankfully doesn’t talk anywhere near as much as Danes’ onscreen character, and by the end of the set as she walks off without a word the audience is left in awe driven silence, well all but one guy who deservedly gets his share of abuse from the rest of the crowd and incidentally a look that could kill from Iceage frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt during their set.
Then finally it’s the turn of Iceage and the Danish four-piece more than deliver, as their now famously aggressive live show draws the now packed Broadcast into a mess of flailing arms as the young band play through tracks of pure punk energy from their two albums to date.
Indeed it is Rønnenfelt that is the main focus of Iceage’s live shows, witnessing his live presence for the first time may come as a shock to some as he’s not afraid to get into the faces of his audience, however there’s now much more to Iceage than shock factor, You’re Nothing has seen the band mature musically and thrive off of this hardcore post-punk sound.
These guys are more than a flash in the pan punk band, they’ve evolved and have the music to go with the live reputation they’ve built up.
It goes without saying that just hearing what Iceage do on record in a live setting would suffice but Rønnenfelt lifts us above that as he disdainfully eyes the audience before snarling lyrics into the mike and gets right amongst the thick of the action while still remaining the focal point.
His delivery is filled with anger that he throws in the faces of the crowd without any sympathy but they lap up every moment.
Iceage are one of those bands that you just have to witness live, their fuck everything attitude just adds to a memorable live show and while they’re producing music to go along with this intensity there’s little any rumours will do to stop their upward projectorary.
Photos: Warrick Beyers
