Dirty cowboys, Fuzzy Riffs & Irish Pints

Adult DVD

supported by 

Fuzz Lightyear and GANS

Leeds Irish Centre 

Adult DVD are Leeds Legends already, this is undeniable. With an upward trajectory that would make an Apollo mission blush and enough glowing reviews to fill a book collection, it's no surprise that their show at Leeds Irish Centre on May 16th was a huge success. No one left that evening without a smile on their face, a film of sweat on their brow and a set of earworms that would last at least a week. Given this readily apparent success, this review is going to spend some time giving some love to the supports of the evening.

Opening that night was fellow loiners Fuzz Lightyear. No stranger to Adult DVD, having had their biggest hit, ‘My Body’ remixed by the group. 

Unlike Adult DVD’s synth-driven numbers with their irreverently lyrical hooks, Fuzz Lightyear opened up with a full punk masterclass of aura and atmosphere. Loud, brash and with enough fuzz running through you to rattle your bones, they instantly brought the crowd to life as a crowd consisting of teenage metal heads and middle-aged post-punkers all united in moving along to the heavy, angry tones of Fuzz Lightyear.

With bassist Varun Govil taking centre stage, flanked by Ben Parry on vocals to his right and Alex Calder on synths to his left and Josh Taylor lurking in the fog behind him, the band struck a powerful visual. Govil often stood monolithic on the edge of the stage, his thin frame and intense stare giving off an otherworldly yet deeply engaging appearance. Opening a show is never easy but, given the crowd’s reaction, you would have thought that the headliners had appeared first on the bill. It was pure energy, pure atmosphere, pure noise and most importantly, pure Leeds. 

This is to say nothing of the second support act, Birmingham’s GANS. This was my second time seeing them at the Irish Centre and third seeing them this year in total. An unconventional duo, with Thomas Rhodes wielding a solitary bass guitar and Euan Woodman beating the hell out of a drum kit, GANS are all gas, no breaks, apart from for the occasional sermon mid-song. In terms of crowd work, nothing works better than getting the audience to declare their love for the great British “P.U.B.”, especially when most of the audience have a pint in hand to raise while chanting. 

Like a dark, urban, Midlands mirror image of the folk duo the Wilswood Buoys, GANS parade around with themes of anger, lust and just being good old-fashioned dirty cowboys. You can tell for the boys in GANS that this music is far more than just

 “B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S.”, it is pure pleasure, and this fun really does carry over to the crowd. It’s important to note that upon arrival, it was impossible to miss that one in five people there were already donning GANS merch, truly impressive for a band performing alongside two hometown acts. With their debut LP coming out in September, and more hype growing around them every day, GANS comfortably sit with Adult DVD and Fuzz Lightyear as one of the best up-and-coming acts that the UK has. To get to see all three on one night was such a blessing. 

Words and Pictures by Natasha Dobson.

(@n_j_dphotography)

First picture: Fuzz Lightyear

Second picture: GANS