Would you, the dearest of readers, actually believe there is a purpose to these monthly witterings? That porpoise, lest we ever forget, is to go see 365 live acts play in 2024. Those acts can be big or small, old or new, brilliant or terrible…we let our musical conscience be our guide.
As we stumble into the start of September the official Pandaman gig total is standing, somewhat bemusedly in the corner of our nearest pub, on 323. Not bad, but hardly a guarantee of ultimate success as our thoughts already turn to the number-crunching perils of the Christmas gigging slowdown and the partying hurdles ahead.
Before then is autumn, the calm after the showbizzing summer festival storm. Fittingly then, it sees the Pandaman sliding back into something more comfortable in the form of his favourite small venues in casual pursuit of the next hot thing, sizzling or not.
Enter UGLY OZO at the Sebright Arms in Hackney, a brittle name for an act with a distinctly un-brutal sound from the fertile indie chalk soils of the Isle of Wight. Fronted up by Jess Baker, theirs is a boldly doomy noise with vigour and sass and melody a’plenty. Very cool, very knowing, very now. Extra points for Jess having a sister in the Ugly Ozo band called Boo. And even more extra points for cutting off a post-gig natter with “Got to go – got a ferry to catch!” Not every you day you hear THAT in Hackney.
Did we mention doomy? Enter TELEFORME at Paper Dress Vintage, again in Hackney (weirdly enough I don’t even live here). Hailing from the slightly less chalky confines of the Thames Delta (see Canvey Island) they push the post-punk panic buttons with a livid old school gothic panache, exemplified by the haunted eyes of beautifully ruined singer Ryan Turner.
Did we say beautifully ruined? Enter THE MEFFS at the John Peel Centre in downtown Stowmarket (where I do actually live). Rumour has it this Colchester-stunned boy/girl duo used to be called Horrible Dolphins, which is the kind of wildly demented binformation we cherish close to our embittered hearts.
Meffs is their name, messy fackin’ punkoid rockings is their game, snappy and snarky and snarling at a stuffed room thanks to the munificence of the Music Venue Trust, who’ve backed the entire ‘effing Meffing tour. Is that a pummelling Prodigy cover? Is that BEN BROWN first on??
Yes, yes it is. Cheeky of face and cheery of demeanour, the sometime Dingus Khan and Supaglu front boy is something of a celeb in these parts, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t heckle the chatterers in the crowd through his acoustic set. Frank Turner has produced the new ‘Blue’ EP, and you can see why Ben’s blend of innocent charm and chundering enthusiasm would be a good fit for the anxious folk brigade.
We end the month with a massively lovely surprise at The Social in the fragrant form of FLIP BECKMANN. A man, an experience, a live victory lap, Flip has been personally chosen by headliners Hatcham Social and wears the anointment with supreme breeziness.
What is he? Who is they? It’s a tiny bit like Jarvis Cocker fronting up an LCD Soundsystem remix of early Roxy Music, a thrusting blend of classic deathless experimental Sheffield electronica circa ‘79 transplanted to the dexterous dynamism of 2006 NYC. Strife in the Big Apple? Not ‘arf.
The six piece band is a mighty beast, not least when swinging its way through a wonderfully generous souful ballad. In the corner the keyboard player looks the spit of ‘60s TV artthrob David McCallum. Up front Flip struts and sashays and generally gently – yes – flips his wig. A veritable polyphonic spree, and no mistake.
Pandaman’s 2024 Total: 340
