The Next Big Thing

Just spent a few days “on the road”, dodging reality or whatever you want to call it - “dah sarf” or “souf” depending on how my teeth are acting up. Last Thursday. I saw The Scientists open for Mudhoney at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Their headlining appearance at The Spitz on Tuesday which was by all accounts a skull-splitter. Anyway the SBE set was pretty impressive too and it was really something to see them on a proper stage. Rattling through a set that felt like they’d never been away. Still unique by any standards with a sinewy swing that’s powered by rhythms that are not of this earth. Kim was giving up his finest Alan Vega style yelps as Tony pummelled and tortured his guitars with a strongbow can that he’d nonchalantly swig from when he wasn’t “playing” it. Boris laid down massive bass action and Leanne kept the whole ballast sweet with some nifty beats and tempo tantrums. The pure pleasure of hearing that noise again was practically too much, the fact that it was even more primal than it seemed 20 years ago was stunning. “Swampland” to “We Had Love”, The Scientists can still throb like nobody else and forget the fucking Stooges dragging the same sorry set through the neighbourhood for the umpteenth time. If only fate could deal these Aussies the mortal blow they deserve then the kids would be going mental for this altogether more cohesive form of scuzz rock. Props to Mudhoney for setting the scene to make this evidence admissable in the court of rock'n'roll. I hope that festivals in Spain or wherever will consider asking The Scientists back to Europe sooner rather than later. I have to gather my thoughts about the Camber Sands experience before I spill it onto this thing but it’s been a heady few days. The bush telegraph, I’m sure, will be buzzing for weeks to come. I’m still not altogether sure that it really happened but it was the polar opposite of a nightmare. I just checked youtube to see if anybody had uploaded any footage yet but there’s nowt as of yet. That bloody We Are Scientist or whatever they’re called better get ready to change their handle. Either that or we’ll send the hundred headhunters around to sort ‘em out. These are The Scientists and they’ve not gone too far, not yet. Not by a long ferking chalk.