Lovvers, I Concur @ The End Bar, Newcastle (08.10.08)

Words: Richard MacFarlane 

I feel like I’ve got some responsibility as a reviewer for this show, on account of the fact that only ten people were there to see it. Because you weren’t there to see it, I am obligated to report the news that Lovvers are absolutely off the chain and that their nonchalant/stupidly thrashy vibes are the best I’ve seen in ages. Seriously though, where were you? I thought Lovvers were getting pretty big these days for their scuffed up and bratty no-fi, so it was a surprise the place wasn’t packed.  

Leeds indie rockers I Concur opened and didn’t do much for the empty mood, playing a fairly drab set of masculine and moody with big bitey choruses and slightly overwrought. It was a solid set, naturally, but pretty derivative of a lot of similarly emotive ‘indie rock’ sounding stuff. 

Lovver’s blasted out mutated Ramones/Buzzcocks punk riffs like the whole End Bar was full of people sweating as much as them. It wasn’t, but their performance sure suggested that it was, particularly their singer, who, as soon as the first blasts of distortion were heard, began thrashing about with a weird combination of floppy disinterest and total psyched-ness. Strutting about on the floor in front of the stage, faux-menacing and wild eyed and playfully tipping peoples hats off, his rambles were fed through massive reverb, matching the washed out and blown out dancey punk. Their scuzz is idiosyncratic, and despite the small turnout, did a lot with what they had.