Tuesday 7th July 2009 @ Thekla, Bristol

Three slouching stoners straight from a garage somewhere in Austin, Texas, White Denim have been the ‘taste-makers’ choice since 2008’s genre hopping Workout Holiday LP sent sparks flying with its Zappa-meets-Funkadelic ambush of the senses.

So, now touring new long player Fits - a similar assimilation and distillation of multiple styles - we expect something daunting but digestible. Nothing we can’t handle, right? Wrong! What we get is an ultra intense, hour-long jam session of wild drums, bass and guitar punctuated with loops and effects pedals; all played spleen rupturingly loud. Stunning us like a forearm smash full to the face, it’s proof positive that no-bullshit rock and roll, when done right, is still the baddest beast on the block. Ladies and gentlemen, White Denim.

For a full hour (at least) each member of this power trio plays with all the urgency of someone whose heart is about to explode. There must be something in the water in Texas, because without so much as stopping for applause – halting only briefly after 30 breathless minutes simply to towel themselves down –  they go at it full-tilt from start-to-finish. Guitar licks skimming and sizzling across the surface of drums and bass played at breakneck speed; delay pedals turning psychedelic riffs into ear piercing assault weapons; howling vocals leading crowd convulsions, it’s all very nearly too much!

Bristol leaves its usual stoicism at the door, and after the initial shock and awe has worn off, as if someone simply flips a switch, a large section of the crowd spontaneously turns feral; body slamming against body.

After over an hour of this full frontal sonic assault - plus encore - the group carefully lay down their instruments, almost as if they’re not aware they’ve just played the hottest damn gig of the year. “Thank you for coming” drawls guitar and vocalist James Patralli, sweat visibly streaming from his mini-gibbons beard. Are we glad we came? We leave with ear damage; we leave with internal bleeding; we leave with big smiles on our faces. You bet we’re effin’ glad! Ladies and gentlemen, White Denim.

www.whitedenimmusic.com

James Davey