Narc. Magazine Online
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Damian Robinson enjoys a conversely high energy and dirge filled night with LA Witch at the Cluny
Image by George Driver
LA’s The Buttertones open up tonight’s show at the Cluny with some serious intent and high level energy. Filled with crack-cloud styled post-punk-meets-rock-meets-ska they’re a great combination of sleazy guitar work, jazzy saxophone droning and lounge/louche crooning. Raw and interesting they make a unique opening act with guitarist Modeste Cobian standing out with his combination of Johnny Marr styled jangle and purposeful physical type of delivery, poise and guitar banging. He steals the visuals in what is a very visually stimulating show.
A quick turnaround sees LA Witch arrive on stage five minutes earlier than expected. Perhaps a little quieter since their last visit to the Cluny, the Witches nevertheless bring their A game, shimmering and shuffling across gothy jangly stoner rock. Amplified out of the dirge by lead singer Sade Sanchez’s melody lines and the ever changing, clever, rhythm patterns and glam stomps, the band play out their Cult and Mary Chain influences, lapping up the 80s production sound, dooming base lines, and neat guitar solos which complement their Mazzy Star vocal lines which are simultaneously distant, dreamlike and delicate. The fourpiece shine brightest on a number of tracks including standout I Wanna Lose which is a perfect mix of dark and dirty rock combined with sugary sweet pop hooks. You missed one hell of a show, from two interesting bands, if you didn’t make this. Get to the next one.
