LIVE!!! Garlic Bread Club #13

GARLIC BREAD CLUB #13

Saturday 11th November 2023

Nexo / Other Half* / Jackals / Deadwax / The Mustard / Dead Animals*

Crisp November air is pierced by the sunlight from a thrillingly blue autumnal sky across the afternoon of Garlic Bread Club, the city’s worst best-kept-secret for those in search of a visceral live music experience. For its 13th edition, full-throttle speed-punks Nexo make the trip over from Copenhagen to close out an exciting and eclectic lineup.

Heading down the familiarly sticky steps at Retro, a rumble of bass seeps underneath the door before it swings open and The Mustard reveal themselves in full widescreen glory. There’s a real positive-energy onstage as the band blast out speedy pop-punk nuggets smothered with lashings of saucy breakdowns and a generous helping of skate-punk inspired backing vocals. The band are a tight unit, with Sara’s Latin flair infusing the vocals with a passionate and playful air.

After a quick trip to the bar I’m down at the front for Deadwax, curious to see how this alt-grime genre-bending Leeds crew deliver in a live setting. In two words; they deliver. Eyeing up the audience, the band smash into a set fuelled by bass grooves, heavy riffs, and beats that hit, in James Brown parlance, on The One. There’s squealing guitar solos, immense processed low-end, and even a reggae number in the mix, all knitted together with the frontman’s eclectic style that incorporates hard rhymes, soulful melodies, and the smoothest stage presence I’ve seen in a long while.

Dry ice and cold light saturate the room as the gothic presence of Jackals creep across the stage. Alternating between moody atmospheric builds and crunching metallic breaks, these aren’t your typical power trio. The sound is dynamic and precise, with the technical lock of Matt’s six-string soundscapes and Ellie’s powerful rhythms setting the scene for The’s forbidding and soulful vocal delivery. Recent single Woodcutter’s Lies hits hard, like the soundtrack to your worst nightmare and a soothing lullaby all tied together with a monstrous, peddling riff. They manage to combine prog, punk, metal, and goth into a sonic groove that marries tension and release to dramatic effect.

And so… to Nexo. The band build anticipation with an improvised freeform prelude as they mentally prepare. They’re fierce and intense, a peloton of punk with each member taking turns to lead and push the others forward across their 45-minute set. They’re also heavy, with a distinct rock & roll edge… and I can’t get enough of the energy and passion they’re putting in. The band do not miss a beat, hitting form from the start with a thrashing rendition of The Kids Are Not Alright and simply not letting up. The crowd are getting into it, spilling onto the stage in support of their Danish guests. Truthicide gets the floor moving with its stabbing riffs and charismatic vocal, Anger delivers on its titular promise, and Demise implodes in on itself amidst violent surf-punk guitars and breakneck rhythm. Just when they look spent, Nexo plug back in for one last race around the block. Ecstasy is all dry, acerbic delivery - drummer and vocalist trading lines in a battle to find out who’s more pissed off - whilst 1312 whips up a dance-floor frenzy with its chugging, NWA-inspired breakdown. It really is fantastic stuff and I’m keen to see these guys again next time they’re over.

Another great night of music in the ever-hospitable Retro, with huge thanks to Jo for pulling all this together, Alex for getting the sound as good as ever, and @neilworthington_musicphoto for the fab photos you see here. Until next time… 

*apologies to Dead Animals and Other Half as I did not catch their sets.