Conforming to its namesake there was indeed a lot of prominent staggering going on at this weekend’s Stag and Dagger festival. The day-festival kicked off at 12pm- allowing just enough time to brush away any hazy remnants of Friday night debauchery and push the play button on the loyal liver all over again. Revellers hopscotched between the finest slew of gig haunts and bars peppered around Glasgow, such as: ABC, Stereo and the Art School. The flavoursome musical menu was packed with a pick n mix of new indie and electronic acts. Specials dished up included: Chapel Club, Egyptian Hip Hop, Blood Red Shoes, Titus Andronicus, Milk and A Place To Bury Strangers to name just a handful. Home brewed favourites on the bill were: My Latest Novel, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Schnapps and Copy Haho. There was a strong animal theme permeating throughout the festival with the likes of Gold Panda, The Antlers, Wild Beasts, Three Blind Wolves, Crocodiles, Sparrow and the Workshop all gracing the stages with their presence.
One commandment which every avid festival goer would pray to see enforced would be no band clashes and sunny weather. However, clashes at festivals are just as inevitable as Bruce Forsyth’s cringey gags on Strictly Come Dancing and alas we were cringing at the unfortunate clashes. Big acts such as Wild Beasts, Chapel Club and Egyptian Hip Hop had to battle it out to draw in the crowds. On a positive note, the weather was very much on our side and a few revellers were sporting Rudolph noses.
We kicked off our day in The Captain’s Rest, a vibrant new music venue located in Glasgow's trendy West End. In sharp contrast to the beaming sunlight outside the venue, the internal lightening was kept to a bare minimum and during White Hinterland’s set the stage was simply. We consecutively caught three up and coming acts there- Tripwires, White Hinterland and Copy Haho.
Thereafter, we walked over to the ABC to catch The Antlers. Unfortunately, most of their set was plagued by technical hiccups and bandleader Peter Silberman’s harmonies were drowned out due to a screeching amp that emanated from the speakers. That aside they’re a band that effortlessly marry an eclectic range of instruments with sublimely poignant lyrics and sprinkle each song with dreamy vocals similar to Bon Iver. Highlights included the omission of-Two, Sylvia and the achingly beautiful Kettering.
The Antlers in ABC1
The Antlers paved the way for their furry friends, Wild Beasts. Deriving musical influences from their scenic hometown, Kendal in the Lake District, the quartet concoct an atmospheric dreamscape that captivates the audience and creates a close-knit camp-fire vibe. Hayden Thorpe’s countertenor voice has a phlegmatic quality and the band as a tight unit effortlessly juxtapose ferocious riffs with a cacophony of hoots, cackles, and wail heart tugging harmonies. Keeping in-between song banter to a minimal, the band had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. Crowd pleasers included: Two Dancers, All the King’s Men and Hooting and Howling. The band sealed the set with the contagiously catchy “We’ve Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues” and received a rapturous ovation. These chaps have a bright future and I highly recommend you go and catch them on their tour so you too can then have their songs permanently etched in your subconscious. Tour dates and tickets can be obtained here
Wild Beasts stole the show
After that delectable aural treat, we scattered downstairs to ABC 2 to catch New York rockers, A Place to Bury Strangers. Many words that have been bandied about to try and describe this band but in a snapshot only one word is truly fitting- LOUD. They blasted out dark hits- Everything Always Goes Wrong, Ego Death and Dead Beat. It is no surprise that there music has been coined as “tinnitus-inducing noise-pop.” After a while much of the band’s songs blend into one and are difficult to differentiate. The closest sonic relatives to the band would be My Bloody Valentine crossed with a hint of Jesus and The Mary Chain. The combination of chaotic stage lighting, explosive energy and a wealth of glamorous rock and roll gems left the indie zeitgeist with their leg hugging skinnies in a twist.
A Place To Bury Strangers turned the ABC2 into an ear quivering frenzy
We concluded the night in The Art School and caught a number of hotly tipped new bands such as Dam Mantle and Synth Eastwood but the standout band was Sleigh Bells. Their building and breaking of beats and rhythms is bubblegum pop at its best. Run the Heart and Infinity Guitars glued the crowd together and boppers danced like no one was watching. It’s hard to slap a genre on the duo but envisage a hardcore Alphabeat and a slightly piped down version of Crystal Castles and the end product is Sleigh Bells(well kind of). Their Album “Treat” is a new addition to my iPod.
The packed schedule forces the bands to play fairly short but sweet sets and with no room for encores. If clean toilets, no mud, your own bed and a line-up brimming with up and coming cutting-edge talent is for you then look no further as this is your perfect festival. It’s hard to believe that it was only last year that the festival expanded to incorporate Glasgow as it seems very much at home here. Let’s hope it’s here to stay. I also hope that fellow gigjunkiers that made the London show had a rocking day/night also. To echo the brilliant Wild Beasts: “We’ve still got the taste dancing on our tongues” and are lusting for more. Roll on next year......
Rachel Macbeath