I recently was very lucky enough to see two great bands in one evening. It wasn't initially supposed to be that way, it was just the case that I agreed to go and see Swans and then later found out Melt-Banana were also booked to play another venue nearby the same night.

Thankfully the venues were very cool, and very sensible, and talked to one another to come to an agreement, and time their sets so that people could go to both.

PS the photographs I used are not mine, but rather belong to a very talented local photographer. You can find the full sets here and here.


Swans



Hoults Yard is among the more unique of venues I've been to. It is quite literally a warehouse in the middle of an industrial estate, in the middle of nowhere. The 'box office' is a portable cabin, the toilets are outside, but inside is a rather large gig space and bar. It's intimate, but it isn't a tiny venue, hence how it was able to house Swans, rather than a local band or two. With only the beams overhead, no obstructions between the stage and the back wall, and no residential surrounding area, there is an unfiltered, harsh projection of sound that makes it no surprise there are complimentary earplugs available behind the bar.

Swans were nothing but professional. Both hypnotic in their slower, newer material and brutal in their louder moments. They played for just shy of two hours and I could have easily stayed and watched another two hours.

Setlist;

Frankie M
A Little God In My Hands
Oxygen
Don't Go
Just a Little Boy
The Apostate
Bring the Sun / Black Hole Man



Melt-Banana