LIVE REVIEW: Male Bonding @ OFFSET

If you read my previous review of Male Bonding’s live set when I saw them in Newbury, you know by now that they are a band who have an impressive and full-kilter live act. Seriously, they storm into and perform with a tenacity that more bands should bring to their shows. Yeah, it’s full of droning, with a seriously washed-down and fuzzy sound but these elements together make for something spectacular. I believe they have successfully constructed themselves as champions of the lo-fi scene.

The set was typically full of material from “Nothing Hurts”, their astoundingly good debut album. Shut up out there those who think the studio recording diminished these songs, they’re fantastic! Highlights included the etheral “Weird Feelings” which has recently got it’s own brilliant video:
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/14256925]

They played my personal favourite, “All Things This Way” and the album closer “Worse to Come” to great appraisal from the audience. With a fully supportive and lively crowd, unlike the last gig I saw them play, Male Bonding enjoyed joyous reactions to the majority of the set, especially to the set-closing finale of “Years Not Long.” It’s a song that has become their namesake, their signature and it’s fortunately a perfect summation of their music. If you haven’t seen them live, the band are currently touring America with similar lo-fi illuminati Best Coast, so catch them if you can!

Check out one of their demos:
Male Bonding – Staring At My Problems