I truely expected this Wednesday night crowd to be here for one song only, 1993’s hugely successful single Jessie (y’know, the dog song) from Paw’s debut album, Dragline. With that particular album packed with many more – may I say better – tracks, it was with great relief that the assembled were mouthing the words to most of the songs from both Dragline and Death to Traitors immediately.
I also expected a long festival of the mid-American rock thing, Paw being from Kansas and all. But from the word go they just battered and went as hard as anyone dressed in tight black pants … no, they were perfectly at home in lumberjack beards and grease stained T-shirts playing some genuinely hard and fast music.
Guitarist Grant Fitch was spectacular in his ability to switch seemlessly between rhythm and lead guitar, the single guitar attack sounding like up to three at a time. Yes, the mid-American strum would appear often but it was beautifully threaded through machines that made it all sound like something from a metal stadium show or alternatively a full-ringing Buffalo Tom jangle. ‘Pertie’ like.
But ultimately, the whole crowd was blown away by the vitality and unerring power of vocalist Mark Hennessy and his ability to belt out an immense sound, his prowl and gusto sending a hell of a lot of people skyward and floating on top of the crowd. Supping on a ‘Greyhound’ between each track, having a chat and slapping hands with the crowd, Hennessy went hard with his fans lapping it up.
Songs like Couldn’t Know and Sleeping Bag sent everyone forward into the pit and drew even the harshest critic’s flailing nod of approval. Built Low, from the new album Death to Traitors, was an excellent diversion with its long driving instrumental section, and finally an appropriate Nirvana cover rounded off the eve with a bit of the furniture being removed from the ceiling.
A total surprise package (for me anyway) from a band which we will see more of, on the bigger live stages, in years to come.
Adam Connors
