It pays to get to gigs early when the often-unknown support acts are so impressive.
This was certainly case at a five-act night of music headlined by recorder tooting music and visual duo Mermaid Chunky at music and art venue Strange Brew in Bristol’s city centre.
Starting proceedings were Jopy, a fierce three piece who grew up as friends in Guildford. They use classic punk rock as its base before skilfully blending diverse influences that include The B-52s with the power of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and a hint of the Cramps along the way.
Jopy
Singer and guitarist Jo Parnell’s playing is intense, playing lead and rhythm guitar simultaneously seemingly through some sleight of hand.
Jopy started very strongly with their single Graveyard Romance and showcased tracks from their forthcoming EP Planet Zombie, out this month on Goo Records.
Their set tonight was a start of a tour during September, which takes in Southampton, Brighton, St Leonards, Derby, Sheffield, London and Reading.
Another to impress was Paper Crowns, a jazz rock six piece from Bristol and nearby Bath that reference Squid as an influence. Its intricate tightly woven music with an epic movie soundtrack feel in places.
They admitted to the audience, which had grown by the time were on during the middle of the bill, that this was their biggest gig yet. They will certainly be a band I’ll look out for again at gigs in the area.
Paper Crowns
Experimental rock outfit Zalizo are in a similar vein, with their blend of Ukrainian lyrics with guitar, saxophone and drums working well. Their lead singer’ apologetic reminder to the crowd about the plight of young people in war-torn Ukraine struck the right tone.
Strange Brew’s mix of art, with a gallery out back, and music makes it a perfect venue for visual and more experimental acts and all three mentioned so far fitted well into its Warholian vibe.
Less effective was Looney Bergonzi, whose music was meandering, and members wore sunglasses. Across their pretentious set I kept thinking of the age-old live music lore, unless you are Lou Reed or John Cale take the shades off when indoors.
Also less effective was the headliner of duo Mermaid Chunky, who are gathering a strong following through festival and visual live shows, and went down well with the crowd.
Essentially though they are just two women from Stroud, dressed like Christmas decorations and playing recorders and penny whistles over meandering tape loops. It was like a thousand primary school assembly memories cascading into one giant nightmare.
Mermaid Chunky
But despite this, the night was superb for new music and experimentation, at a great venue.
I’m reminded that one of Jopy’s influences, the B-52s may never have been if Jerry Ayers, who was one of Andy Worhol’s Factory stalwarts, hadn’t moved from New York’s art world to develop the Athens, Georgia, scene during the 1970s.
That ethos of experimentation and blending art with music is clearly alive and well in Bristol too.
By Joe Lepper
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