’68 + In Archives + Tortuga @ The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes – 8th August 2014

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When someone as iconic as Josh Scogin, former frontman of The Chariot and Norma Jean, brings a new project to these shores, you go out of your way to see it – even if that journey takes you to a rock pub on the outskirts of Milton Keynes. Wolverton’s The Craufurd Arms was the closest to home Scogin’s hotly anticipated duo ’68 was playing on this their first UK tour, so Wolverton on a Friday night it was.

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Opening things up was local four piece Tortuga, whose instrumental riffage was a mixture of influences and genres, with elements of math rock, hardcore, punk and even post rock thrown in. The lack of vocals was more than made up for with a furious live show, which saw one of their guitarists in the crowd more often than he was on stage and culminated in a pounding, tribal drum solo from their bassist and drummer. With a stage presence boasting shades of Dillinger Escape Plan, let live and, appropriately, The Chariot, this was a highly impressive showing – bordering on triumphant. Tortuga is a band worth keeping an eye out for.

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Direct support was another British act, metalcore five some In Archives. This band played to a practically deserted Island Bar in Birmingham on a Sunday evening last summer. Back then, they were good, but with another year’s gigging under their belts they are now a highly polished, slick live unit. They are full of energy, prowling the stage from front to back and swinging arms, legs and guitars wherever possible. A bit more crowd interaction wouldn’t go amiss, although tonight’s setting is tough, as there is only really a handful of folk gathered to watch. But, without wanting to end of a negative, take nothing away from In Archives; they would wipe the floor with most of the metalcore peers. Good stuff.

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And so to ’68, the rock and roll two piece made up of Scogin on vocals and guitar and drummer Michael McClellan. Hopes are high for tonight, underlined by the fact that there are now enough people gathered for you to need at least a few extra pairs of hands to count them. However, while ’68 set up it soon becomes clear that something is not right with Scogin’s complex pedal setup – a key part of this twosome’s loud live sound – and he angrily has to adapt his rig.

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Slightly delayed, ’68 rumble into their set, but Scogin is clearly not happy. Snap that; he’s furious. The usual lyrics – as found on ’68’s thrilling debut album “In Humour and In Sadness” – are frequently swapped for anguished cries of ‘what do you want from me?’ and Scogin seems to favour brooding and glaring at his amp rather than engage in his usual drum kit climbing antics.

The smiling, fun-loving version of ’68 that you can see all over YouTube is not here tonight, but even in these trying conditions ’68 is a formidable live act. The anger at his technological failings brings out a new intensity in Scogin; he delivers his vocals with venom while his now somewhat unpredictable mood makes his impossible to take your eyes off.

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While the performance is thoroughly enthralling and brilliant to watch, the gaps between songs are tough. Scogin seems mournful at the fact he can’t deliver a ‘full’ show and talks at length about how he doesn’t believe in failure, before launching into a storming cover of Nirvana’s ‘Tourette’s’ – a song Scogin says “I didn’t write, but wish I did”. It’s an apt choice for so many reasons – the sound of “In Humour and In Sadness” owes a lot to the raw power of “In Utero” and McClellan’s drumming is certainly from the Dave Grohl school of hard hits (despite him using an incredibly stripped back drum kit). but it’s Scogin in tonight’s unhappy state who bears an uncanny resemblance to Kurt Cobain; supremely talented and captivating but fragile and sorrowful when things don’t go to plan. While it may be premature to call them the next Nirvana, this performance in adversity underlines the fact that there really is something special about ’68.

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The duo then make up a song on the spot, before rounding off their set with one of their regular numbers. Whilst it wasn’t the usual ’68 fare, tonight was still more than worth the road trip. If ’68 is this good when things are going wrong, imagine how fantastic they’ll be on a good day. Come back soon guys!

Review & photos – Dave Musson

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2 thoughts on “’68 + In Archives + Tortuga @ The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes – 8th August 2014

    1. Hi Tyler,

      I spoke to Will on the night and got his email address – will send some more pics over for you when I can 😀

      Cheers,

      Dave

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