There are perhaps 12 people on this ship who aren’t either venue staff or members of one of the two bands, and it’s a real shame as I doubt those 12 or so people will see a better show this month.Openers are Coventry’s Don’t Move, who certainly do move a lot, putting on an energetic peformance unfazed by the low turnout. Don’t Move are quite a lot unlike anyone really, playing a punchy jangly pop that recalls The Byrds, The Smiths, The Housemartins and the better songs by Franz Ferdinand, that blends into moments of sharp electric blues and DeVotchKa-esque oompah driven by Cerderick Confuegos’ accordion and frontman Mason Le Long’s percussive guitar. Sweetly, they play a song written for them by Julian Saporiti of The Young Republic, a beautiful example of tour mates getting along famously.
Don't Move
Mason LeLong of Don't Move
Nashville’s The Young Republic are a warmly yet darkly humourous sextet who mix early 1900s swing with Blonde on Blonde era Dylan electric blues and stomping rock and roll, with dry and at times macabre lyrics delivered in Julian Saporiti’s rich drawl, at times recalling a Southern Andrew Bird, at others far more visceral. The instrumentation is exquisite, especially when Kristin Weber’s violin and Nate Underkuffler’s viola combine, or Bob Merkl lets rip on slide guitar. The set features much of new album Balletesque (see Becky’s review below), the song Sam Clemens with its fabulous lines ‘What will you dress as for Halloween/ when there’s already such scary things in life it seems’ just a day too late, and Tidal Wave a splendid and ambitious opus. The band are in good humour, Julian starts chiding two girls in the audience for standing with their hands in their pockets, but then backtracks saying sometimes he doesn’t like to dance at shows either and that’s ok, or ending an odd exchange with another girl over who gets to guard his water bottle by saying if it’s ok with her he’d just like to play some songs now. As with Don’t Move, the performance is wondrously energetic, with some fabulous shape throwing and even a quick game of statues. People of Bristol, you missed a treat.
Kristin Weber of The Young Republic
Julian Saporiti of The Young Republic
The Young Rebublic: l-r: Kristin Weber, Nate Underkuffler, Julian Saporiti, Logan Linning, Chris Miller, and Bob Merkl
Tags: Don't Move, The Young Republic
by Matt
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