Beloved by the NME and self confessed electronic minimalist
punk-hop rants for the working class, a statement that clearly outlines their
manifesto, it is with no surprise that Sleaford Mods walk on to the stage
looking like a pair of extras from the latest Shane Meadows film.
The duo are a pair of forty something
Nottingham bruisers who are still being swarmed with hype around the recent
release of their album ‘Divide and Exit’. Their live show, in a packed joiners
feels like you are being yelled at by a drunk on an overcrowded train.
One member Andrew Fearn a lanky, gaunt figure sporting a baseball
cap and tracksuit bottoms simply pressed play on his laptop. Whilst swigging
his beer he began to sway to the beats, his night is over. The other member,
Jason Williamson looked like a wound up pitbull a he strutted on to the stage
looking straight in to the whites of the audience’s eyes with a look of disgust.
There was then a silence as a simple, rudimentary drum beat filled the room and
then the Williamson’s voice, one full of pure anger took over as he began the
opener “Bunch of C***s” which opened into a rant about the lost members of the
human race who aimlessly walk around shopping centres.
The NME and the duo themselves have stated that they are the
new voice for the working class. And if you wanted a voice to follow which is
made to attack and complain then Williamson’s is that voice. Williamson rages
against life in modern Britain with such intensity. Complaining about a government that has
created a nation full of young offenders, life on the dole and wages that don’t
fit the hours demanded. “You’ve got to be able to sell yourself”, he angrily shouts
down the microphone during ‘Wage Don’t Fit’.
Amidst the simple hip hop inspired beats composed by Fearn,
Williamson has a lot to say on the repulsiveness of everyday life. These
include buses, office toilets and off licenses. This is why the entire Sleaford
Mods discography would fit perfectly in a film directed by Shane Meadows, its
angry, gritty and rough similar to the Meadows’ film This is England. Williamson’s
strong stage presence is also evident throughout the performance. As he yells
his punk poetry straight to the ear drums of the audience. You can see the spit
leave his mouth and the veins on his face look like they are about to burst
whilst he swings his arm around his head like he’s being given electric shock
treatment. During the set he expressed his opinions on the audience, asking
them numerous times to “wake up”. Meanwhile five feet away, Fearn still
swigging his beer and nodding along to the backing tracks.
Sleaford Mods have criticised
many aspects of the music industry. Stating
that “pop has eaten itself. We’re fed up with it”, and as they return to the Joiners
stage for their encore, Williamson still has time to vent more anger on people
living an everyday life. With the set closer “Tweet Tweet Tweet” twitter bears
the brunt in this Williamson rant calling the users “Zombies” and moaning about
how bleak their life. This leads to Williamson signing off with a simple f***
off. After a forty five minute barrage of anger and frustration, the set ends
and the duo leave the stage leaving the audience feeling as if they have been
told off by a strict headmaster.
8/10
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