@ Sneaky Pete’s Edinburgh, Fri 13 May 2016
Five years have past since Yuck released their debut album. The mix of fuzzed out guitars and pop tunes caught the attention of indie fans and the music press. The hype was justified by their unruly and fiery live shows. Five years on and the band have now released three albums and are still going strong. They are in Edinburgh tonight to prove they are still a great live band and also to promote latest album Stranger Things.
Glasgow band The Van T’s have made the trip across to Edinburgh to open up the gig. Unfortunately most of the audience have decided to spend the early part of the evening enjoying the rare spring weather. The audience are however missing a blinding performance from a raucous, rough and vociferous band. The Van T’s put out the Laguna Babe EP late last year and make the type of music that should be played loud and riotous and the band dutifully oblige this evening. It was such a shame that the venue wasn’t at full capacity.
Soda Fabric are a Berlin based band who have a close relationship with tonight’s headliners (Yuck guitarist/vocalist Max Bloom mixed the single Teenage Illusion) and do a good job of stealing the attention from the headliners. Funky basslines, catchy riffs, psychedelic noise and loud guitars best defines Soda Fabric. There is a shoegaze influence to their to music and beats, bass and drums gets the audience bobbing their heads along to the noise. The audience is transfixed by a band who are definitely future headliners.
When Yuck take to the stage, Sneaky Pete’s is packed out. The small venue in Edinburgh’s Cowgate is now a sweatbox. If today was one of the warmest days of the year so far, then it doesn’t compare to the heat and expectation that is going on inside the venue. Tonight’s gig is sold out and you are very lucky if you’ve managed to find a spot where you can actually see the band.
Yuck are a four piece from London and are in the middle of a massive tour. The band however are clearly not tired from the constant gigging, as they take the stage with energy and style. The setlist is made up from tracks from their three albums and the scruffy vocals and fuzzy noise translates well from record to stage. After several songs the band do look a bit fatigued and appear to be going through the motions. Maybe it’s the heat in the venue, maybe it’s the fact the bar was raised by the support acts, but Yuck come over as slightly hazy. Thankfully this doesn’t last too long and the exhaustion is blown away by the time the gig reaches it’s climax. The band end with Georgia from their much lauded debut. The energy is back and the audience is reminded of what Yuck are capable of.