DRENGE.

with Blood Sport and Lupo.
Thursday 11th April 2013. Review by Martin Stapleton

The year 2013 may only be in it's first quarter but DRENGE are a band who seem to have gripped everyone by the musical privates. From the hiking hills of the Peak District, it opens the debate. Are they from Derbyshire or part of the adopted clan of Arctic Sheffield? They are not Monkeys, but with the frenzy and contacts that they are making at the moment, will they equal Turner's troops? Drenge are, quite simply, a pair of gangly skinny brothers. Their surname might be Loveless but that is so inaccurate as we so adore these talented siblings. Rory is the younger who larrups the drums so dementedly. Eion is the 'psychopathic' vocalist. Slightly older, he takes command and is fully in control. Once again Bedford lets down a band who could explode in musical terms. Over ten years ago I saw The Libertines in similar circumstances. My thoughts are of that night as I see such a patchy turnout. For f**ks sake, it's only £6 a ticket.
The contacts that Drenge have diligently brokered are to be admired. As well as previous gigs with The Cribs at the NME awards, they have also recently supported Deap Valley. This duo have also been handed a support slot at Hyde Park in July with those pensioners of rock, otherwise known as The Rolling Stones. Watching these raw and vibrant young men with their energetic, abrasive and imaginative vibes, I fail to see how they can fit in with a bunch of ageing musicians whose sell by date was all of thirty years ago. However, if it gives the brothers a leg up the musical ladder then good luck to them. Drenge, inspired by avant garde Danish films, stand proudly on the stage. Eion is casual, cool and confident. All eyes are on him. Does he care? Of course not. Brash, but not over confident or arrogant, he stands at an acutely funny angle. It is side on to the paying public and it looks like he is wooing the lovely ladies of the bar. This positioning looks disjointed, comfortable for him but a bit strange for the punters. The set starts well with "Dogmeat" getting a true pedigree reaction, while "I don't wanna break your heart" is, considering the duo's tender ages, a throwback to some bygone rockabilly influences. "I wanna break you in half" contains the toxic lyrics that this pair are famed for, namely "make you run to the hills, make you piss your pants". It does back up the media slavering that has followed them, dark and studious lyrics that go deep beyond their barely shaven chins. This song also gains with some Sabbathesque riffs. These sinister brothers have plenty of angry and horrific lyrics that dovetail so well with the intensely skilled musicianship. Standing afar, I can hear some familiar strains emanating from some of their compositions. Who else heard Status Quo or Kasabian? The brothers are very kind to this town - or is it sarcasm? Their view is pithy, but accurate; "It's very nice to be in Bedford. It's full of coffee shops and charity shops"! A tiny ripple of laughter greets this observation by our northern visitors. Drenge look to be a band who need some audience feedback, but Bedford sadly cannot provide any on this occasion. Their Black Keys inspired blues rock is best typified by "Nothing", but it is their current single, the magnificent "Bloodsports", that garners the most cheers and the best reaction. Sandwiched in between is "Backwaters" which will be the next Drenge single in June. Watch out for these dangerous brothers!

BLOOD SPORT hail from Brighton but have been adopted by the Steel City. They are ultra experimental. It's rock meets funky afrobeats in a jazzed up grungy mash. Is it arty or self-indulgent nonsense that is best left in the garage or bedroom? They are one of the most extreme bands to appear here for a long time. Opinion is divided, there is no grey area with Blood Sport. With plenty of echoes and distortion, most of the audience seem perplexed as to what to do. It's not for foot tapping or head nodding. After ten minutes it does get rather boring and samey with only one enforced break in fifty minutes of controlled noise. Vocals are inaudible and even Mark E Smith has clarity in comparison to this trio. It is two guitarists and a drummer plus some electronic wizardry. Their merchandise stall is also a surprise as a cassette (remember them) is for sale! They are soon to release a six track split record with Azores. Love or hate Blood Sport ( and most people I spoke to disliked them), you certainly won't forget 'em!

Nurtured by BAM and cultured by The Pad Presents, LUPO open the evening. They did not disappoint or let anyone down. After impressing me recently, I was keen to see how they handled themselves on the big stage. Except for some needless small talk, the songs stood up well. "Dreambrother" excelled right from the moody and atmospheric opening through to the meaty psychedelic chunk of the song. "Freethinker" was also enjoyed immensely.

Drenge 1 Vid

Drenge 2 Vid

Blood Sport 1 Vid

Lupo 1 Vid