It’s just gone 3pm on a Saturday, and while the rest of the world is shopping, taking in a game of football or pruning the hedges, I’m up an alley in the City Centre having my eardrums irreparably battered.
My assailants are Shredd, a trio from Cumbernauld who identify themselves as “a pop band”. A supergroup of sorts (they’re made up of members of Deathcats, Other Humans and Madison), this is only their second gig.
But they’re already making pop at its most… well, it’s not pop, is it? It’s full-blooded, exhilarating, garage, with tight riffs, white noise interludes and drumming so powerful that it exfoliated my skin just by being in the same room.
It comes with the territory, really, when you’re at a weekend-long psych and garage festival. Freakender, which took over Renfield Lane’s Old Hairdressers last weekend, was a triumph. It kicked off on Friday night, when the highlight was the ramshackle brilliance of Glasgow’s Spinning Coin. Saturday’s all-day session began with Shredd’s forceful riffing before segueing into ‘80s-influenced alt-pop (Lylo), before The Cosmic Dead’s searing, psychedelic space rock brought it all back into focus. Liverpool’s Beach Skulls brought the weekend to a close at the Sunday comedown session, their spindly, surf-influenced jams providing a more chill antidote to the previous two nights. The festival atmosphere took over Renfield Lane like a street party, with the venue’s big sister Stereo just a hop away for those in need of a seat and a more relaxed pint - away from all the distortion, feedback and crowd-surfing. I’m already looking forward to the 2017 edition, hopefully by which time my hearing will have come back.
Q: What has been your album of the year so far?
1. Gavin McQueen, 22, Newton Mearns, “Kanye’s The Life of Pablo”
Alex Burrowes, 22, Hyndland, “Colouring Book, by Chance the Rapper”
Gordon Gillespie, 22, Burnside, “Jackaster’s DJ Kicks”
2. Christopher Campbell, 24, South Side, “Frank Ocean’s Blonde”
Jonny Holtz, 27, Paisley, “Charleur Humaine by Christina and the Queens”
3. Peter Dickie, 48, Paisley, “The new one by Ela Orleans”
Mary Dickie, 47, Paisley, “King Creosote: Astronaut v Apple Man”
4. Ben Fletcher, 35, Ibrox, “Hopelessness by Anohni
Kim Moore, 32, Dennistoun, “I don’t really have one.”
5. Alistair Campbell, 24, South Side, “Powerless by Apostle”
Ruth Campbell, 27, South Side, “Nic Cave’s new one”
6. Andrea Harkin, 35, West End, “Ela Orleans’ new one”
7. Kathleen Russell, 36, Finnieston
Favourite Club? Solo
Favourite Bar? Kelvingrove Café
Favourite DJ? Richard D Clouston
Favourite Band? Vessels
First Club? The Garage
What You Drinking? Gin, soda & lime
Describe Your Dancing? The stuff of myths.
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