The Young Knives @ Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall – 2nd August 2008
“I thought it was going to be really bad but its actually alright”. Young Knives bassist the House of Lords feigning his surprise at Wolverhampton and what it has to offer should hardly endear him to the crowd, but this example of the camaraderie that the Young Knives deliver at their live performances only serves to prove why the same fans keep coming back for more. These fans, although relatively quiet tonight, have been suitably warmed up by support My Biggest Fan Club, a surprisingly heavy proposition mixing shouty choruses with Biffy Clyro-esque breakdowns and brutal drumming. The 3-piece certainly don’t lack energy and there’s enough here to suggest that continuing to hone their sound could see their star rise in the future.
It is the 3-piece from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, however, that are the reason why people have turned out for this one-off opportunity to see their favourite geek-rockers. It’s not just the aforementioned camaraderie that warrants being here tonight, it would be stupid to think that alone holds the interest. After all, if you haven’t got the songs than you can say goodbye to getting away with a gig smack-bang in the middle of the festival season. From opener ‘Terrafirma’ the Young Knives display the agitated kookiness they have become known for, a quality that contrasts sharply with the snappy attire they have become equally synonymous with. Second album highlight ‘Counters’ follows, as does a new song; well-received and much more of the same.
The banter keeps coming thick and fast, lead singer Henry telling us of some shenanigans in a Dundee water park with some “sweet rides”, before the House of Lords (that nickname given to him because he’s big and all the important decisions go through him) asks the audience to forgive him if an injury to his “fingering arm” means that it “doesn’t rock out as much as the rest of me”. The tongue-in-cheek comments are present throughout , the Young Knives encouraging knife crime and discussing how they’re going to spend their advert royalties.
At times the set can seem a bit drab, particularly when they wheel out a couple of album tracks. When they unleash single “The Decision” and a lively encore of “She’s Attracted To” though, they show their musicianship and ability to write wacky, hook-laden songs. They leave the stage to the inevitable sound of their disciples’ adoration, but it will be their return to the Midlands and the debuting of new material that will show if they continue to have the bite to match their bark.
Review – Liam Flowers
Photos – Ursula Roxy Aitchison