‘How would you describe this style of décor?’ my friend asks, as we queue at the bar, and he tries trying to dodge dangling fronds from a plastic plant. ‘Kitsch?’ he suggests. I have no idea. We’ve secured frankly fantastic red velvet armchairs by the fire on a freezing night. Above the fireplace, and across the ceiling, is a jolly playroom riot of plastic figures, artificial plants and fairy lights, all against a pillar-box red background. The chairs and sofas look inviting and warm – the whole effect is slightly magical. Grotto?
We’re here to watch the compelling Schande, whom I first saw supporting Thurston Moore at Rough Trade East. I loved them, so I’ve dragged two friends along to see them. We’ve got a while until the bands start, so we order some of The Cav’s pizzas. They arrive quickly, and they’re huge, and properly delicious – so much so that we miss the first band while we’re finishing them.
Fortunately we’re in time for Schande, who play to crowd that gradually expands as they work through their set. They’re a three-piece made up of guitarist Jen Chochinov, drummer Ryan Grieve and bass player Gio Villaraut. Their sound is reminiscent of Thurston Moore’s work – maybe because Chohinov spent time playing in his Guitar Ensemble – but it also suggests jangly indie roots, perhaps with a little dash of My Bloody Valentine, though with an urgency and verve that’s all their own. You can find out all about their articulate songwriting, imaginative guitar work and thumping rhythm section from their new album Once Around.
We’re unprepared for B.A. Johnston, but maybe that’s standard, even if you’ve been following him for some time. He’s a delirious one-man band, firing off comedy and sharply observed songs at high speed, to the delight of the crowd he periodically sweeps through, wrapping people in his mic cable, pouring beer down their throats, feeding them Cheezies (Canadian Wotsits, someone bravely suggests) during a song about the same and – in my friend’s case – carefully straightening his shirt collar while continuing to sing. It’s what might have happened if The Young Ones grew up and ended up alone with just old Casio keyboards for company, but had developed a bit of self-awareness. The grotto setting just enhances it, with Johnston regularly leaving the band room and returning with a souvenir, at one point a lampshade on his head.
We were a little wary to start with, but many of the crowd have no such reservations, delighting in the anarchic show and even joining in with some of the lyrics, to Johnston’s astonishment and delight. We’re treated to tragi-comic classic-to-be Me And The Black Mould And The Cat Who Is Now My Cat, about being stuck with a lease on a dank flat by an ex who has deserted both him and their cat, and the singalong Dayoff is a Dayoff, among other short and definitely not sweet bangers. Under the chaos these are immaculate pop songs – catchy slices of life that I find myself humming on the way home.
B.A. Johnston: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Schande: Facebook / Bandcamp
Review by Hannah Boothby
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