When I say Fuzzbox is a hot night you better believe I mean it H-O-T! We headed down to The Angel to check out the latest selection of cool bands.
The crowded, sweaty Angel on the hottest day of the year so far is almost the perfect venue for Diablo Furs - they wouldn’t have been out of place during the halcyon days of CBGB’s. Much like those other favourites at that venue, the Ramones, they have duality where they would also be just as happy on the Top of the Pops set or being interviewed by Smash Hits. Favourite chocolate bar? The melted Twirl that someone threw at us on stage at The Angel. Who throws a chocolate bar in this heat? They actually namecheck the Ramones when Rob says, “it’s too hot to be rushing through your set, we’re not the fucking Ramones” about halfway through their set. Despite the heat, they manage to put on a ridiculously energetic performance, the highlight of which is recently released single Pressure Don’t Stop, a song that is already a massive hit in a parallel universe.
Sundaze is a great name for a band on a day where everyone is suffering from daze caused by the sun and their “psychedelic moon pop” would perfectly soundtrack an afternoon on Nottingham beach. Or most beaches for that matter. They have that modern antipodean psychedelic sound of bands like Tame Impala and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. For a band with a frontman with no shoes and off socks, they’re not beyond the obvious either, opening with a song called Intro.
While Sam has all of the pedals, it’s Megan who really adds the colour to the sound with her guitar playing. She also takes a leaf out of Gareth Southgate’s book by wearing a waistcoat. Meanwhile Alex the bassist has brought his dad along so that he can celebrate his birthday watching his son play. However, it does mean that he gets to enjoy Electric Queen, the highlight of the set.
Like all psych bands they have the odd number that slightly outstays its welcome and they need to improve their stage patter beyond thanking everyone for coming after ever other song. These are minor gripes in a fabulous show though. They end with Black Magic, a sprawling song that goes off in exciting directions. It wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Nonagon Infinity, a perfect set closer.
Fuzzbox night returns to The Angel on August 4th at 8:30
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