The Vasco Era called stumps on 2012 last week going out with a hometown show at a just-about-sold-out Corner Hotel. The curtain slowly opened to reveal a dishevelled Sid apologising for starting with a slow one. Probably didn’t need to apologise for that. It was When We Tried To Party To Forget About It from album one and it’s a shit hot tune, one that rarely gets a run. Ted and Fitzy got involved fairly promptly and the trio played two brand spanking new tracks out of the first four songs. One in particular was rad. Can’t tell you anything more about it, but if you’re a Vasco fan your nips should be a pointy as mine should these suckers see the light of day. Lucille was heartbreakingly overlooked in a set that encompassed just about every facet of the Vasco beast. They’ve Already Won and Oh Sam the only songs to get a Guernsey. In fact the majority of the set list was probably covers, which isn’t a problem at all as they do a cover better than most. Otis Redding, Elvis, The Pixies (twice) and Sir Bob Dylan were all a feature.
Avatar Blues, Rock And Roll Is The Only Thing That Makes Me Feel Good and Child Bearing Hits from their latest album were all as predicted, banging. Unfortunately someone made them a super indie film clip for Child Bearing Hips (they made another one, but the damage was done). On account of this clip, which just revolves around a girl with her head out the window of a car and her hair in the breeze, a young lady had some kind of monstrous brain fade and got up on stage when Sid was doing a song on his own. She did that awkward neo-hippie shuffle/sway thing. She must have thought she was killing it, ‘cause she stayed put for the duration of the tune. It was baffling. I was baffled. Baffled as. In fact everyone around me was pretty baffled. Eventually the soundman side of stage gallantly took matters into his own hands and gave her a healthy shove back into the crowd. I thank you for this, sir. As usual, a completely engaging, unpredictable, entertaining and humility-filled set from The Vasco Era. Make another album, ASAP. Onya fellas.
BY JACK PARSONS
LOVED: The Vasco Era.
HATED: Swaying dousher… Urgh.
DRANK: Batteries.
