A shorter version of the much-loved Indie day at Leicester city centre venue The Firebug, with a quintet of fine acts in an ideal venue.
First on were Boarder, a power trio establishing themselves locally. With guitar fuzz and echo driving the sound, super-deep bass and merciless drumming they were a gale-force of stimulating noise. Their recorded work is at an early stage but especially the slower ‘End Of The Day’ and their first single ‘Black Hole’ sounded full of potential.

Low-fi duo Panic Pocket performed sharp and ironic personal tales, bringing the audience into their world. The subtle guitar and mini analogue keyboard interweaved with the dual vocals and concise evocative words like ‘…you left me all alone in the dark……I walked home, via Morrison’s car park…’, from ‘Don’t Get Me Started’. They celebrate mundane ephemera, modern disappointments and on the lead track from their forthcoming EP ‘The Boss’, the pointless stresses of the workplace. Excellent.

I first encountered Derby quartet Pet Crow when they released their debut album https://cambridgemusicreviews.net/2017/06/14/pet-crow-a-simple-guide-to-small-and-medium-pond-life-lp-released-march-2017/ and finally I get to see them on stage. Their live sound is a perfect balance of aggression and restraint; the luminous, compelling vocals sound like they are from a alternative universe sometimes aligning with ours as the three musicians hammer their instruments at a hyperactive work rate, as well as painting light and shade. I really enjoyed this brilliant set, especially the strangeness of ‘Harold And Maude’.

Wolf Girl played a fine set drawn mostly from their second album, along with oldie ‘Middlesexy’. ‘Moody’ is a strong opener, showing how the band use their twin guitarists and vocal layers to create a full power-pop sound. ‘Dream Partner’ is a retro treat, ‘This One Summer’ is a holiday hit while the bass driven ‘Maths In The Real World’ gives way to a killer chorus. ‘Samson’ is sparse, sharp and hypnotic with a catchy chorus (‘…Samson, don’t you look handsome…’) that all makes a sort of sense.

Headliners Personal Best are soon to release a new album and several tracks from that were featured tonight, along with ‘Love Is On Your Side’ and ‘This Time Next Year’ from debut LP ‘Arnos Vale’ and 2014 song ‘The Tide’. They are a band with a great strength and depth in song writing who lift their live sound into a punching, sparkling platform for tales of relationship angsts and optimism. Finally the stately descending guitar introduction heralded their anthem of diversity and tolerance ‘This Is What We Look Like’, which grows in stature with every listen, and was the best possible ending to the show.

https://boarder.bandcamp.com/
https://panicpocket.bandcamp.com/
https://petcrow.bandcamp.com/
https://wolfgirlband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/personalbestrocks
https://www.facebook.com/stnpresents/