Miscellaneous - ICA, London, 27/11/2009

by Anthony Strutt

published: 29 / 1 / 2010

...while on the second night he sees sets by Swervedriver, New York-based based-band the Deprecation Guild and Jesu

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I arrived late for the second night of Reverence 2 and only saw a few songs by the Depreciation Guild, who have recently released a split single with Ringo Deathstarr, who are also on the bill for the third and final night. The Deprecation Guild are a New York three piece, consisting of two guitarists, Anton Hochmein and Alex Naidus, and a drummer, Kip Feldman.Both Alex and Kip are also in the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. The two guitarists looked very trendy with their floppy fringes and made a very loud sound which was heavy with jangle. This was their first show in the United Kingdom. Jesu, the next act, is fronted by Justin Broadrick who was formerly in Godflesh. He played bass and used a laptop, while the only other member Diarmuid Dalton on stage played guitar. It all started off in a harsh Slowdive manner, but then from the second number descended into a hardcore rock sound which didn’t really do much for me at all. While there was an element of grunge, it was more like metal sadly. Tonight was the only night of the three not to be sold out in advance, but Swervedriver, the main act, still played to what looked like a full house. Originally formed in 1984 as Shake Appeal, who were massive Stooges fans, they released just one single under this moniker, ‘Gimme Danger’, back in 1987. Three years later they regrouped, changed their name, released a number of fine EPs on Shoegaze's most influential label, Creation Records, and then in 1991 their fist album, the mighty ‘Raise. It is an album that I have played to death, since seeing this gig and of course on vinyl too. In their original lifespan, they went through a number of different line ups and released another three albums, ‘Mezcal Head’(1993), ‘Ejector Seat Reservation’(1995) and ‘99th Dream’(1997). Since then front man Adam Franklin has released solo albums as well as band projects under the names of Magnetic Morning, which also featured Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino, and with his first post Swervedriver group Toshack Highway. I can’t remember if I am honest if I saw Swervedriver back in 1991, but if I did it was at the Astoria and on the same bill as Verve, before they added The to their name and ruined the good thing they had going for them. The crowd were enthralled by Swervedriver’s style of Shoegaze, which is different from the other Shoegaze bands of the time, as while they came like many of the other acts of the time from Reading, unlike them their music was also very Americana-influenced. Lyrically and in feel, as well as vocally, they owe a lot to bands like the American Music Club, the Lemonheads, and Buffalo Tom. Swervedriver played the longest set of the festival, with a main set that lasted 66 minutes and then a 15 minute encore. Opening up with ‘Sci-Flyer’ which started off ‘Raise,’ and ending with crowd favourites ‘Son of Mustang Ford’ and ‘Rave Down’, they delivered the goods in fine and loud manner. Tonight they even had a birthday party for one member of the band on stage who shared the same birthday as Jimi Hendrix. They rocked their socks off and everyone there was pleased to let them do so. A fine band who have reclaimed their glorious past in very fine fashion indeed.