The Star & Garter is a legendary underground music venue in Manchester. It is a bit of a contradiction, a Manchester institution that has also managed to evade a lot of people. Unless you've been to an underground metal, punk, hardcore or indie show there or have been to one of the club nights there (the monthly Morrissey night is especially popular) then it probably hasn't even entered your consciousness but even if it has, chances are you've probably never been. I've always described it as my favourite place as so much of my life has been spent there. So many many memories, friendships and memorable gigs are tied in with that place. The legendary status of the pub obviously hasn't made it over to Ireland as Cork's indie veterans The Frank And Walters tweeted earlier today that they had got lost and ended up at the wrong Star & Garter in nearby Stockport.
Tonight is a little bit of a risk for me as I've decided to bring my wife here for the very first time, When my friends found out, their first reaction was 'what the fuck are you thinking?'. When we got here, I asked my wife what she thought of the place and she described it as a shithole. I proudly agreed as I pointed out all the things that haven't changed since the nineties.
The support act tonight is Oxford's Jody And The Jerms. They are a female fronted indie band and they are pretty average, to be honest. The bassline on the second song reminds me of late eighties or early nineties bands like The High or New Fast Automatic Daffodils. They are all roughly my age and it has the feel of a mid-life vanity project. The third track is poppy post-punk which is pleasant enough but that's all. 'Shiver' has a 'Babylon's Burning' style bassline but it is played much less intensely. The sound is a mixture of early nineties indie and late eighties alt pop. 'A Different Place' is Bananarama if they never made it and were stuck trawling tiny shithole venues in the eighties alternative scene. The vocals are full of character and aren't bad at all. They have a touch of Kirsty McColl about them and there are some nice folky vocal harmonies too. The vocals are probably their best feature. In contrast, the music is plodding and laboured. 'The Harder I Try' has a charming chorus but musically it's a bit leaden, and that sums up their set really.
'Tony Cochrane' seems like a fairly low key opener for The Frank And Walters but when they reach the chorus, a number of people join in and sing along. 'Stages' is more uptempo and the climax ratchets up the intensity. 'Trust In The Future' has a commercial pop rock feel like '90s U2 or The Stereophonics and the chorus is another belter. 'Landslide' and 'Plenty Times' are another couple of tracks which have a U2 influence and Paul Linehan soars vocally in a Bono-esque fashion on them but don't let that put you off as they are great and have considerable emotional power. The punchy 'Somewhere In The City' is heavier on the synths but is still a classy slice of indie pop. 'We Are The Young Men' sees lots of not so young men punching the air and singing along to the chorus. There is a real connection between the band and the audience, helped by the fact that they are pretty funny in between songs, especially the drummer Ashley. The guitarist Rory's work on 'Song For A Future Love' is excellent, I just wish I could hear it better. 'How Can I Exist' is pretty emotional and the soaring chorus is excellent. Kraftwerk's 'The Model' is given their own spin, and the stark European minimal electronica of the original is transformed into something much boozier and folkier. The Frank And Walters have always had a knack of writing great choruses but the incredible refrain of 'After All' (which was a top twenty hit back in the '90s) is probably their best. 'After All' causes the place to become unglued and the excellent 'Colours' keeps up the momentum. It's getting pretty hot in here now and Paul strips to the waist for a fantastic 'Fashion Crisis its New York'. The intensity of the set increases with the temperature. 'Walter's Trip' and 'This Is Not A Song' are both armed with killer choruses. 'We Are The Frank And Walters' is still a bit rubbish but it is so charming and memorable that they get away with it. The summery 'Indie Love song' is super catchy and closes the set in an excellent fashion. Fan favourite 'Michael' which often closes the show is absent though which is both surprising and disappointing but this is a minor quibble.
The Frank And Walters ****
Jody And The Jerms **
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