Music / Bierkeller
Review: The Black Lips, Bierkeller
The Black Lips will either hit you straight away or get better with every sip of beer. Having been around the block a few times now, you can’t help but feel the Atlanta garage rockers have influenced hundreds with their distinctive and messy punk.
Over the years their live shows have become famed for spontaneity and urgency. In the past they’ve seen nudity, fireworks, chickens, flaming guitars and urination to name but a few. Although as they took to the stage of Bristol’s Bierkeller tonight, toilet roll streamed over the crowd and you just knew it wasn’t going to be a tame affair.
The band themselves looked like they’d be found down a wrong turn on Route 66, donning cowboy hats, shirts and some beautiful looking vintage guitars. Although as they dropped their short and frantic blasts of rock, it was clear that they’re anything but style over substance. We’ve seen bands like Fat White Family and The Black Tambourines dominate the genre recently and its clear that their approach and sound has been modelled on these guys.
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They nail every song and the crowd down the front are more than happy to bounce around like an excited bunch of teenagers. It’s such a joy to watch and be a part of. This band aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, they’re sticking to what they do best and that’s all we want. It should also come as a testament to them that the venue was nearly half empty, yet this didn’t at all put a dampener on the atmosphere or proceedings in the slightest.
Highlights jutting out of the setlist included classics Katrina and Bad Kids which are tracks that have understandably come to define the band and their legacy. Bristol essentially got dealt a show based around energy, good times and ace music. This was proven by the fact friends were still swaying around and thrashing in-between songs, too impatient for a few seconds break before the next. Also the stage invading chap covered in toilet roll deserves an honourable mention for determination and spirit. Hopefully when The Black Lips are next in town, the venue will be as full as they deserve it to be.
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