Hey You Guys!/This Wicked Tongue?Rattlin Doors Live @ The Marrs Bar, Worcester 16/8/13
Hey You Guys! are the latest project from local mainstays Pete Adams, Dave Draper, Oly Edkins and Ben Pemberton, a quartet who have trod the boards under numerous guises (too many to mention here) before joining forces to create a potent, rough and ready mix of garage punk, infectious rock and rowdy indie. Since their inception they’ve played a handful of gigs here and there, whilst honing their brash and ballsy debut album Gasp! Shock! Horror! before unleashing it on the world with a side order of pass the parcel, balloons and party poppers thrown in for good measure.
Before I get to the main event I want to mention the two support acts for this prestigious event. Having recently reviewing the debut single by Rattlin’ Doors, my expectations for the rowdy trio were suitably high, here was a band that on disc at least took elements of feral blues, post punk and menacing country add some adrenaline and a whole lot of attitude and serve it up in three minute spiky blasts. From the opening number the band managed to exceed any preconceptions with a stunning ramshackle set of blues/punk riffs, infectious rhythms and howling half sung/half hollered vocals that compelled even the most casual of listener. Obvious highlights included the aforementioned single, In The Treehouse, the contagious Merseybeat and a wild take of Love In Vain (by Robert Johnson) to name but a few.
This Wicked Tongue were chosen as the main warm-up act and as ever the band delivered a solid set of female fronted rock, the band set about laying down a tight groove complete with metallic riffs, bombastic drums and catchy hooks, whilst Tina V showcased her finest rock wail, whilst rocking out with the audience and throwing her finest shapes displaying exactly why she is regarded as one of the finest singers to grace the various local arenas. The band delivered a couple of brand new tracks which bode well for their next release whilst long term favourite 22 was delivered with a new sense of urgency as the band shook the audience into life.
And so to the main event, Hey You Guys! performing their entire debut album plus a thrash through a We Are Sciencists cover and a brand new track all to the delight of the assembled masses. Now any act that includes Dave Draper among their number are going to deliver a flurry of hard hitting serrated riffs but I’ve not seen the guitarist this animated before, he was throwing shapes, singing along and delivering punchy riff after punchy riff as if it was going out of fashion add to this the one-two knockout rhythm section of Oly Edkins and Ben Pemberton, who pummeled and strangled their instruments into submission leaving the audience drained but exhilarated. Topping off this already potent force was a newly energised master of ceremonies, Pete Adams, who came across as a reborn frontman, hollering, shouting, and gesticulating wildly.
Imagine if you will a fine combination of The Wildhearts, Art Brut, (long forgotten UK rockers) Honeycrack and a metallic Carter and you’re in the right kind ballpark for the glorious sounds of Hey You Guys! a perfect unison of rock, metal, infectious indie and punk with shout at the top of your lungs vocal hooks and layers of thick fuzz that just demands you to throw yourself across the room. To pick out individual highlights would do other tracks a disservice however opener and album title track Gasp! Shock! Horror! laid down the foundations whilst Record Deal, Whiter Shade Of Pale and The Three Ronnies all left me with a huge grin on my face and a crashing chorus rattling around my noggin’.
Hey You Guys! both live and on disc are brash, bold and bombastic, you can expect a good time whether it in the comfort of your own living room or the snot and sawdust of your local fleapit but however you decide to devour the band’s wares I suggest you stop what you’re doing and seek them out now!!
Rhythm & Booze Rating 10
www.hygofficial.co.
photos by Graham Munn
