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Dominic Stephenson witnesses a night of enchanting shoegaze
Image: Just Mustard by Dominic Stephenson
Touring bands often bring along support that complement their own sonic makeup and that was precisely the case with Just Mustard and Cruel Sister. The creative outlet of Faith Nico, a condensed set of robust shoegaze numbers echoed that of their compatriots, except the performing quartet cranked up the scuzz but also drifted into looping dream-pop territory. With luring coiled basslines, charring guitar and guided by spectral vocals, they’ve already been a regular on the Dublin circuit for a number of years and will now look to forge a name for themselves on this side of the Irish Sea.
Just Mustard had somehow avoided my gaze since first listening to them circa 2019 and they’ve gone on to establish themselves as frontrunners of the contemporary shoegaze pack. With three solid LPs under their belt, not to mention appearances on Jools Holland and KEXP, this was also somehow the first time the Dundalk quintet had played in Newcastle and they opened with the meteoric ENDLESS DEATHLESS from latest album WE WERE JUST HERE.
Katie Ball’s childlike vocal delivery conducted the impregnable sense of dread on I Am You – the steely juxtaposition which defines their work to date – while the prismatic gumbo of DREAMER hit like a freight train. The strongest segment of the set inevitably included their G.O.A.T. Deaf, climaxing with guitarist David Noonan’s anguished bawl, as well as other iconic oldie Frank; however, this was also when their shortcomings live became apparent. For all of their instrumental nous they have virtually zero stage presence, which threatened to topple into a state of inertia – an air of self-seriousness also does them no favours.
Industrial waves are sown into their unboxable soundscapes and made for a whirling final act, the trip hop-flecked noise daubed with howling guitar tones and pneumatic drums on Still and the new titular tune. While there’s no doubt Just Mustard make enchanting music, sculpted by stellar musicianship, this live performance left more to be desired.
