False Advertising @ Chester Live Rooms @ 20.10.17
Mancunian alt. rock mavens on excellent form live in Chester
Oct 20th, 2017 at Chester Live Rooms / By Richard Lewis

An early doors airing of ‘Scars’ showcases the band's wherewithal with a hook, its chorus refrain of ‘You Like Me/More than I like you/And I don’t care who knows it’ one the group's best earworms. Impressive new 45 'Hey You', which extends the band's run of memorable videos calls the off-kilter guitar lines of US indie doyens Pavement to mind. Included on new release, I Would Be So Much Happier If I Just Stopped Caring, the five track set pulls together all of the cuts released by the trio this year. Issued on fetching glitter-covered cassette, the once dormant format continues its DIY renaissance from being the 1980/90s equivalent of the 8-track cartridge.
With co-lead singer/guitarist Jen Hingely’s sonorous vox cutting through superbly, the guitar clamour bolstering her voice, the maelstrom brings out the best in the likes of ‘Wasted Away’ and a brilliantly slacker rock take on ‘Sigh’. With Jen and Chris Warr switching places, placing the part-time sticksman on guitar and vox, a practice which partially inspired their band name (interview), Warr steps forward to deliver a bunch of grunge rock bangers. The Chris/Jen sung ‘Give It Your Worst’ is a highlight, flitting between the ennui laden numbness of the verses to the explosive choruses, a song that cries out for a decent-sized moshpit.
Now at the stage where their live renditions are virtually interchangeable with the studio-bound recordings, the hard yards have undoubtedly tightened up the trio's live sound. The changeovers with vocals/guitar/drums are seamlessly handled, soundtracked by bassist Josh Sellers’ bass interludes, his four string work keeping things in check throughout. While everything here easily passes muster, the non-appearance of storming 2016 single ‘Alopecia’ is a slight grumble, yet the fact the fact the trio can leave these early landmarks out shows just well they’re progressing.
Roughly forty minutes of excellent melodic grunge/alt. rock alchemy later and more converts to the cause newly recruited, it comes as no surprise that the tour van and the open road beckon again.
False Advertising tour:
Thurs 26 October - Hull - The New Adelphi Club
Fri 27 October - Liverpool – EBGB’s
Sun 29th October - Stage And Radio, Manchester (Free Entry, acoustic set at 2.45pm)
Mon 30 October - Birmingham - Sunflower Lounge
Tickets are available here
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