The Bug Club hop across the Severn estuary into Bristol for the third date of the current ‘Every Single Muscle’ tour to promote their latest LP of the same name. (Available on all streaming platforms since 29 May).
Hailing from Caldicot in South Wales, the group formed in 2016 and began as a blues band with songs written by Ross Willmett, brother of guitarist-vocalist Sam Willmett. After Ross’ departure, the remaining members – bassist-vocalist, Tilly Harris, drummer, Dan Matthew, and Sam – ventured in the direction of a more unique, quirky, indie pop-rock sound.
Striding nonchalantly onto the stage inside Bristol Beacon’s elegant Lantern Hall performance space, the Bugs are met with an enthusiastic and chronologically diverse crowd. But I remain somewhat sceptical due to being largely unmoved after sampling their oeuvre in the weeks prior to the show.
I have always had a strong aversion to a farcical approach to songwriting. And this band have silliness in spades. It’s something I cringe at when I hear it on record. But maybe that’s because I’m a miserable S.O.B. However, I acknowledge that quirky goofiness can translate very well in a live performance setting. The band quickly validate that prediction when they open with one of many songs from the new record, called ‘Semi-Automatic’. A punk-fuelled, scorching of the earth that stands the audience upright to attention right from the off.
The rapid-fire continues with fun, percussive punk energy of ‘Quality Pints’. A simple ditty about finding a good ol’ fashioned boozer, in a strange town, that can pour a decent jar of ale. The band like to write songs about the nondescript and the everyday, but from the stream-of-consciousness perspective of a 12-year-old with a diary. For all the silliness of this output, it gains a charm and vitality when presented so gleefully on stage by the duo.
Throughout the gig, Tilly bounces around the stage demonstrating her sunny charisma and witty humour when engaging the audience. Her introduction of ‘A Bit Like James Bond’ as a “song about some freak who likes to suck people’s fingers in the shower” was a particularly guffaw-inducing line. She’s a cool cat.
And her bandmate relishes every opportunity for guitar virtuosity as he breaks into solo flourishes, and, at one point, even gets his teeth into the act during ‘Best Looking Strangers in the Cemetery’. The duo put together an overall tight performance, cutting loose when the feeling takes them while possessing an unmistakeable chemistry which leave you transfixed on the stage.
As the set continues, the songs begin to coalesce into formulaic blob of sameyness, but it doesn’t spoil the fun and charm of the night’s performance. And there are a couple of moments where they break things up a bit.
With ‘Shiny and Wet’ we glimpse the blues influence from the band’s early days, even if it is told through a carbon copy of the heavy blues groove of ‘Iron Man’. A fact that Tilly is fully aware when she musingly states “uh-oh someone’s been listening to Sabbath”. ‘All My Clothes Fell Off’, also from the new record, is a rare slower tempo pit stop in a set full of blistering frenzy for a willing and bopping crowd.
Things are back on script as the band plays out the final songs before being beckoned back on stage by a jubilant crowd for a two-song encore. “If you insist” Tilly crows, self-effacingly. Yes, we do!
Dan Adshead
