Pictures by Marcio Custódio (Sonicflyer) and Stuart Nicholls (Wry)
When you have four great bands playing, and one of them is celebrating the release of a long-awaited single and EP, it's obvious you'll have a packed house. That was the case of Goonite Club @ Buffalo Bar last Wednesday, with four acts on the bill, including Wry, partying with friends and fans for the release of "Whales And Sharks" cd EP and "Sister" 7" vinyl single, both out by superb shoegaze independent label AC30. The first two bands were Kissing Kalina and Deep Cut, and I have to admit I didn't pay enough attention to them, mainly because I was busy running the night (sound system, guest-list, drink vouchers), or because I was simply talking to friends I haven't seen for ages. Nevertheless, I was impressed by the bits I saw, with the two bands fiercely delivering strong rock 'n roll sets. Kissing Kalina were sleazy, dark and dirty, while Deep Cut, fronted by a girl with great attitude, gave us some notable Britpop songs.
Since the venue was full mostly with Wry fans, I decided to do a DJ set based on the band's influences, so I threw a few noisy classics mixed with newer ones in the playlist. It worked out nicely, and I could see people were delighted to hear My Bloody Valentine, House of Love, Blonde Redhead, Amusements Parks on Fire, Ride, Sonic Youth, and many others, between the live sets. I truly enjoyed doing this; I have not included a band like Chapterhouse in my DJ set for at least five years, and it was a pleasure to dust off their record.
Following the shoegaze anthems exploding from the speakers, the stage was ready for Sonicflyer, a half-Russian half-English quartet. Listening to those beautiful guitar lines and female vocals to die for, the only thing I can say is that they are splendid in every way, resembling what would be an unique encounter between bands such as Lush and Doves. Their songs spill over into a sublime realm, with melodies capable of melting the iciest heart on earth. One song, "Tonight", was especially emotional. After they finished I awkwardly went to talk to the girl who sings and plays guitar (picture), praising the group and asking for a demo, so that I could add them to my DJ sets.
The air was already filled with enthusiasm as headliners Wry prepared to take the stage. This was an important night for them, and the fans seemed to realise that, attending en masse. For me, this band is in better shape than ever, and t
he concert just showed that, with strong and solid songs like "Come And Fall", "Sister" and "Bitter Breakfast". The audience was in high spirits during the performance, the songs were played violently loud, and the minor technical problems that happened during one track didn't, even in the slightest, spoil the supreme beauty of the music. The crowd loved it all, and the band was cheerful, as you can see in the picture. One thing I noticed is how majestic the guitars were sounding, with all the nuances flowing deep in my ears, striking my head and warmly touching my heart. And I was hardly the only one with these feelings. Other highlights included "Different From Me" and "Never Sleep", the latter full of glorious riffs.This group of Brazilian chaps crossed the Atlantic all the way from Brazil to give England something very special: illuminated rock 'n roll.
xxx
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