De-Clunk Dave pinged up on my phone with a message, would I like to go see Goat Girl tonight in Newcastle? The immediate answer was ‘yes’, and after getting the go ahead from my better half we were getting ready for an unexpected night out.
The venue was the ‘Lubber Fiend’. Never heard of it, don’t know what it means, but it’s a great little spot. Think a slightly bigger ‘Source Collective’ in Carlisle. Upstairs in some old industrial building, low ceiling, good beer, friendly welcome and extremely hot. As charismatic frontwoman Holly puts it though ‘I don’t mind getting sweaty every now and again!’
As we arrived support act were starting, an electronica-acoustic duo playing some melodic songs with folky open tunings. I never got their name so apologies for that.
Goat Girl were the main event, and make a great sound. They were a four piece, but with Clottie Cream (guitar, lead vocals) and Holly Hole (bass, synth, vocals) the only ones standing, these were the clear frontwomen. The style was good, punky, melodic with some good clap-along basslines. I recognised some of the songs from these very pages and De-Clunk Dave’s reviews, and sent him a video of recent single ‘Motorway’. I enjoyed their more upbeat offerings, enough to buy new album ‘Below the Waste’ from the merch stall; and only felt that a catchy, memorable chorus or two were missing.
Overall, an enjoyable and unexpected night out. Cheers De-Clunk Dave!
DeClunk 