End of the Road 2019 - Friday - Pottery, Spiritualized +

Pottery
Kicking the festival off for me was Pottery, an all-male five-piece from Montreal (and no, I didn't go see them just because they're Canadian). With every one of them contributing on vocals I quite enjoyed their set in the Tipi Tent. Even intra-song they kept things interesting with shifting tempos and enough musical changes to keep me guessing and earn that "genre-defying" label.

Flamingods
A last-minute addition to the bill I wasn't familiar with them but had heard some applaud the announcement. Despite my open mind I couldn't really get into them as they seemed to be jam-band that just wandered rather than leading me to any musical heights. When their finale seemed to be winding down I turned to leave and did not look back when after a few moments pause they picked back up into more of the same.

Spiritualized have apparently been gazing into the galaxy for ages, as have I, and yet I've never caught a glimpse of them. Friends were pumped for this and I'll admit there were moments of grace and beauty, as J. Spaceman guided the journey via his guitar from his seated position. Across from him was a line of guitarists which layered all on top of each other. Furthermore there were three women raising their voices to the heavens while performing synchronized shimmies, and a drummer. It was quite ethereal and worked under the stars of the late summer evening. Familiar with I'm Your Man it stood out though the rest seemed to all come back around in a similar vein. The most disappointing part was that they closed on a long-winded take on a gospel song that did not pack much punch.

Someone from the Green Man Festival had post that Jockstrap was a standout for them which is why I ducked out of Spiritualized to give them a try. Wasn't worth the two minute walk over to the tent for a smorgasbord of "art" that was all a load of crap. Nobody needs a multi-minute flute solo, the very reverbed rap of the lead female singer hit no marks, meanwhile the four-piece string section went essentially untouched. The final straw was when they played for about 30 seconds before being cut out completely and returning to the flute. What a load of shite.

Spielbergs, Yr Poetry, Wood & Nails - Sunflower Sep 21/'19

S

Speilbergs were a strong musical presence, with blistering rock music coming out of their drum, bass, guitar, keys and massive hair. They weren't overly animated but sounded great, almost recreating a good chunk of their debut album This is Not the End (maybe even in order?) The biggest disappointment was that after already having their venue downgraded from the Flapper the room was only partly filled which perhaps contributed to the singer cutting a song towards the end of the set before wrapping up in under 40 minutes. In conversation he claimed to be getting over a bad cold though blaming the lacklustre music support from the Brummie indie scene on a Saturday night might still be appropriate.


Yr Poetry were not something that I thought I was going to like at first blush. Perhaps it was that they were just a guitar and drum duo and I thought the previous act, Wood & Nails, deserved the sweeter opening slot or perhaps it was the singer's voice and demeanour. However, I very quickly warmed up to them and all of those things flipped to be positives. Their songwriting was surprisingly varied despite the basic instrumentation and the guitar-neck-only playing through his pedals sounded surprisingly excellent. Apparently they were/are members of Johnny Foreigner which meant nothing to me but might to you.

Wood & Nails came out and instantly sounded like a bunch of great bands all at once, not in a generic way but a familiar way that drew me to them instantly. I tried to play spot the influences but couldn't put my finger on it.. maybe something like The Ataris? Regardless all four appeared as polished and poised musicians playing earnest indie punk rock and I loved the entire set.






Mutt were on when I got in and I quickly realized I'd seen them rather recently opening for Press Club. That time I'd given them a full chance but had found their female-fronted rock sound to be very straightforward with little to differentiate it or interest me so I bowed out after a song.