This was one of several shows to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the fabulous Fulford Arms. Only three years until the venue becomes a teenager! The poster above shows JUKU as a headliner supported by special guests. Sadly, no thanks to that bastard Covid-19, JUKU could not play. Which left us with Special Guests, who are Special Guests? Are they a band, no, but that might make a good name, right? There were three special guests; No Como Crees, Speedreaders, and new headliners PERCY.
So first up it was No Como Crees. We got two-thirds of a punky trio forced into an acoustic set thanks to drummer Dave getting the back door trots, or as Roxy Music once said, both ends burning! Did this stop No Como Crees? No, they were absolutely ace with a towering display of slacker rock! Their original tunes were fabulous and their cover of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” was stunningly spectacular and supremely sublime. Vinnie and Harrison, you fucking rock! I am sure Dave rocks too when he doesn’t have the Dehli belly!
Speedreaders were next with a kind of drone-driven indie sound. Sometimes it sounded like shoegaze on speed, and I do mean that in a good way. The harmonies were mostly perfect. There is a definite Velvet Underground influence with Speedreaders. The particular highlights for me were “Little Things” and “Nobody Died” and the wild wig out on the closing number was full-on psychedelic.
When JUKU had to pull out PERCY, those West Yorkshire Super Heroes, pulled on the number twelve shirt and headlined. They have a new album coming out later this year and their set was pretty much that whole album. They opened with what is now a solid PERCY classic, “What Les Said.” “Blackout” is brilliant and in my opinion owes a small debt to Ian Dury. I really love “Thinking Of Jacking It All In Again” and this was the first time that song had ever been played in York. It has a weird and mesmerising fairground-style rhythm to it. Introduced as a song for autistics who are not really autistic it was “Do You Think I’m On The Spectrum?” This is the kind of song that probably only PERCY could write. The same could be said of the wonderful and very dark “I Can Hear Orgies” which reminded me a little of Public Image Limited at their finest. ”It’s Not About The Money” (at least that is what I think it is called) is definitely a future PERCY classic. they closed with the modern ghost story in a song that is “Last Train To Selby”, a truly epic track. So many of the new songs have a classy and more punky edge and for me, this bodes very well indeed for the new album. This was another brilliant set from one of York’s finest bands as they enter their 28th year!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.