Back for another year, Last Train Home has gained a well-deserved reputation for staging some of the best, and newest, acts around into a jam packed day in September. As it happens, the reputation is very well maintained this year.
Festival openers “Machine Music” are the first to arrive on stage, almost fully decked out in monk gear. They’re a lively opening act, especially given it’s half one in the afternoon, with the three piece blazing through a sonic onslaught that captures punk, goth and doom rock all at the same time. Dark and heavy in some parts (The Cure, Black Rebel Motorcycle) they’re just as poppy and psychedelic in others (Brian Jonestown Massacre, New Order) with “Dystopian Virgina” and “Pedestrian Sex song” standing out in a great set filled with humour, fine guitar techniques and on-point baselines.
A jump across to the Hippodrome is well placed to see “Hels Pattison” who between her and her 3-piece band, deliver some fine county-folk-pop-rock. Recent single “Merry go round” is a show stealer though the rockier “Sticks and stones” is introduced as a slight change in direction and is layered with really interesting Radiohead style drum patterns and chord sequences; it’s a real introduction to where Pattison might be going next which feels really exciting.
The Noisy Daughters Stage is opened this year by “That Clare” who provides a combination of fine electronic pulses, great guitar fretwork and well-crafted visuals to provide a really interesting Lo-fi experience. “Yeah you know”, “Consciousness” and recent release “Just because” stand out in a set which veers into interesting Smashing Pumpkins elements as Clare moves the sound towards Billy Corgan styled melancholia and high falsetto vocals.
Maintaining the high standard, George Bailey shines on the Hippodrome thanks to leading a very cool trio of musicians underpinned with poppy Razorlight moments and a charismatic show. “Never know” and “Nothing now” sparkle as Bailey moves the sound to a rockier, SuperGrass/ solo Gaz Coombs style demonstrating a canny ability for complex musicianship disguised by ear-worm riffs and flowing melody lines.
A jump across to Noisy Daughters sees the first of today’s “Shakk picks by BBC Introducing” make way, with Eternal Rin appearing on stage for her first ever live show. Confident, and supported by a grungy, rocky, band, Rin provides a solid show underpinned by a mid-90s dark tock energy. Playing to a packed out room, Rin’s 30 minute set is evidence of huge potential as well as why she was picked as a choice. A little fine tuning on the live stage, complete with maintaining her songwriting, may well lead to a promising future.
Newcastle’s lush and warm “Lovely assistant” play the main stage next; their interweaving vocals being perfect for the mid afternoon slot. “Last of the aircraft are leaving” steals a show filled with lovely musicianship and interlocking vocal parts. It’s great to see new album “Fuck Love” being mentioned so much in the local press given how many good songs it holds.
As the day gets later, and the crowd starts to pack, sometimes the only way to survive a festival, sometimes, is to find a venue and dig in; so I decide to head across to the Forum and do all I can. I’m there in time in “Dupla” who, having played the two consecutive previous days, are on good/solid form and are keen to impress.
Newcastle’s punk/alternative heroes “Tv Death” are the penultimate act of the evening at the Forum; introducing various tracks from their excellent recent album “Neon Dreamland”. Filled with energy the TV gang blaze across a set melding The Cramps with the Gun Club for a relentless 40(ish) minutes which moves across psychedelia to straight rock and then back again in a way which matches their 70’s styled outfits and attitudes.
The Pale White finish the day (officially) at The Forum, building on the momentum of TV Death and moving it, if possible, into a even louder and more energetic onslaught. Still, probably, feeling the love and momentum from their spot at St James Park and their recent album, it’s all go for the Whites as they play in a confident, assured, manner with barely a break in their 45 minute set.
There is a DJ to follow the end the night at the Forum, but I need to go home and rest; as always I’m gutted about not seeing a load of acts I’d loved to have seen but you can only do so much. Last Train Home thrives again. Congratulations to all involved.
