Wolf People – Deaf Institute, Manchester 19/02/11
The Deaf Institute, one of Manchester’s most glorious music venues hosts this evenings entertainment. I like the fact this is a two band bill so we don’t have to sit through a lot of chaff before we get to who we want to see – Wolf People. First up are The Liftmen, a band who seem musically mismatched, child-like ditties, mixed with indie-pop and sonic youth noise, kinda like Drugstore if anyone remembers them…
Now for the only reason we are here. Imagine it’s 1972 and you’ve come to see Wishbone Ash and Jethro Tull, both bands are at the peak of their powers, Fairport Convention, Neil Young and some British folk rock artists are in the crowd. Wolf people are the band born from this meeting of minds. Even the decor of Manchester’s Deaf Institute gives the proceedings a definite early 70′s feel, but Wolf People are very far from being mere 1970′s revivalists nor are they just pillaging the past as there is a sense of a ethereal timeless quality to the song writing that transcends any retro tag.
As the only UK band signed to Indiana’s Jagjaguwar Records, you can see why they made the perfect tour support for fellow Jagjaguwar artists Black Mountain for last years UK tour. A lazy description could be England’s answer to Black Mountain, but Wolf People are out there on their own, a band who do what they do because they do. There is no contrived moments to the whole affair as its pure and unadulterated. There are elements of early British Folk alongside early British Rock but done in such a way that it sounds fresh.
Most of this evenings set comes from ‘Steeple’ and the fact that I love this album goes without saying. ‘Tiny Circle’ is played without flute and funnily enough no one legged front man, however a lot more rocking and heavier than on record, as is most of the set this evening. Twin guitars give us intricate solos and melodies which are dispersed throughout proceedings. ‘Banks of Sweet Dundee’ is a highlight. This is a band who are going to grow into your favourite band…
Grails
March 8 sees the highly anticipated return of Grails with the follow-up to 2009′s “Doomsdayers Holiday” – “Deep Politics” on Temporary Residence Limited.