Entering the rather cosy settings of The Glad Cafe, a sense of genuine excitement is palpable.
Tonight the finest independent venue south of the river gets to welcome Washington’s Naomi Punk to these shores for the first time, the post punk trio stepping by following the release last year of second record Television Man.
They’ve managed to create something of a stir recently, and having now been afforded a European tour there must be something about this raucous band to justify such a move.
However, firstly a band based a tad closer to home, Fawn Spots, kick off proceedings; gently settling into their stride following a slow start, art rock riffs and grooves become the order of the day for the lads from York, who blast through a 25-minute set.
While from a technical standpoint there is no doubting Fawn Spots talent, the messy shoutiness of there difficult to interpret lyrics can provide a frustrating obstacle.
With a new vinyl to promote the boys eventually overcome some nervy moments and can be filed under a Japandroids with less tender vocals, special mention should go out to the drummers striped football top.
Tonight Naomi Punk is good enough to treat us to what is effectively a complete run-through of Television Man; this means short, sharp bursts of razor-sharp guitars and pounding drums.
From the off, the Naomi Punk chaps whip themselves (if not a hesitant audience) into a frenzy as bodies go flying forwards and back, kicking off mic stands and generally making the walls of this small venue bounce and shudder to a degree unlikely seen to date.
But everyone’s here to have there own form of understated fun and there’s a genuine sense of joy floating around the room tonight.
There’s also an airing for an oldie at the end of a noisy set, as pre warned by vocalist Travis Coster, which is thankfully of similar high standard as those on the latest album.
The venue and the warm music contributes to a very intimate and cosy evening, and during ‘Linoleum Tryst’ there is even a murmur of crowd chanting emanating, served to wrap the audience up in a glorious and accomplished blanket of sound.
This band are a truly exciting proposition live, and while their new LP is an excellent listen, after this evenings show it’s clear to see that the only way to experience Naomi Punk is crammed into a tiny, sweaty space where their visceral, almost hardcore-punk attack makes complete sense.
‘Rodeo Trash Pit’ is worth turning up for alone in itself as is Television Man’s title track, both delivered with intricacies found on record but given an extra dimension in a live setting, as Coster focuses firmly down to his mic throughout retaining to the side stance, as his drummer makes it his goal to outdo his performance on each and every symbal hit.
Punk both in name and nature the band extend an invitation to us all to come have a chat as we “seem cool”, Naomi Punk might not yet be seen as cool, but lets hope that doesn’t happen any time soon.
Words: Andy Quigley
Photos: Iain McDonagh
