Cursive/ Dag for Dag / Airship

OK, before I start, I must warn you that this review is written in a wild, bold viewpoint of someone who is in love with this band. I had already seen them earlier in their tour at Dingwalls, London. I therefore stood awaiting their entrance on stage with a growing knot of expectation as though my left testicle was about to explode( hmm, I must see the doctor about this phenomenon).

I had already missed the first band Airship. I had seen them at the Camden gig and thought they were rather good. With a feel of Arcade Fire their songs build gradually before they oozed to a crescendo. I did however catch the end of Dag for Dag. A three piece band who said they hail from Sweden via San Francisco. To me, any group that has a female lead singer/guitarist bedecked in a sort of sparkly 'wonder women' outfit will get my vote. It seems that most of the crowd agreed and enjoyed the Shadows versus Siouxsie and the Banshees vibe (with oodles of feedback).

At just after 9.30pm Cursive take to the stage. Lead singer Tim Kasher arrived beautifully bedecked in a pink shirt and the band burst into a version of 'Sierra' from the 'Happy Hollow CD. Straight away you get the full packet with these cheeky fellas. They teeter on the edge of being uncomfortable. Kasher's voice is at times akin to a sloshed pub singer that weaves angrily amongst the jagged disharmony of the other instruments. But then, in a trice, it all welds into a horrible, beautiful noise. At times it almost seems to takes the part of free-form jazz before growling voice and catchy lyrics drag it back to its punky position.

The crowd at The Academy are much more volatile than their London brethren. When 'Dorothy at 40' begins there is widespread shouting of lyrics and general mayhem. Once again the blending of guitar and trumpet makes a glorious sound. With Cursive it does seem that Kasher remains the catalyst. With a look of Barry McGuigan (and at times the voice of Lena Lovich) the rest of the band seem unsure at times which direction they are going to be led. You therefore get the feeling of fun on stage and the possibility that they may try different aspects of their craft. Indeed, the set listing had altered from the Dingwalls gig.

Luckily they keep in my favourite from the 'Momma I'm Swollen' CD. If ever a love song could, or should be screamed, this it, 'I Couldn't Love You'. This songs growls with passion before the trumpet spews its triumphant message. Oh dear, I feel a bit of testicle action again. The band then glide into a slower number. The song 'Into The Fold' evokes a sort of Kate Bush / Peter Gabriel feeling. I myself would pay darn good money for Cursive to do a cover of Baboshka.

Providing this weird blend of disharmony are Matt Maginn: bass guitar (think bouncer). Ted Stevens on guitar and vocals (think actor Kevin Whately), Cornbread Compton is on drums (think drummer), and Patrick Newbery: trumpet, synthesizer( think lead singer of the Hold Steady). They join Kasher to build an extended schreeeeching version of 'What Have I Done'. At times he spits his soul out his nostril then slows to an almost silent 'My Way' drawl. It is like a public confession of his life and as anger froths over the keyboards loop over a sound of feedback as they leave the stage at 10.30.

They all return to reopen the wounds in our ear drums. Yep, a version of 'Big Bang' will do that very nicely thank you. Guttural and off-key, it demands your attention. In the Dingwalls gig, Kasher had leapt off stage and hung from a railing as he delivered this song. Tonight he stays on stage and gradually the set begins to draw to a close.

For me a great gig and, already I am eager for more. My only regret that tonight they didn't play 'We're Going To Hell' whose lyrics of "mock politicians grins and squeaky image," would appear so apt in these current times.

Postscript - As I climb wearily into bed following the drive back to North Wales I find it hard to fall asleep with the discordant snoring of my wife, Lizzie. But hell, I didn't mind for I had just seen Cursive. As for my wife, 'I just couldn't love her any more'.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.