By Jase Walker
Virality is a funny thing and can see the most bizarre things explode into the wider world with just that right bit of tipping the algorithm. In this case it’s shot a polka dot outfitted math rock band with microtonal weirdness thrown into the mix out into the wider world and enabled a tour that sold out every date in a couple of minutes.
I do wish I had a bit more of a convenient show to get to, but I wanted a headliner show and their spot at London Calling this year in Amsterdam wasn’t something I was willing to take a chance on when I can get a headliner show outside of a festival. So, for all of my whining im on the other side of the Netherlands at Nijmegen to see them do their thing.
As I arrive at the venue, there’s no small number of people in polka dotted clothing and also being interviewed by news channels prior to the show. I’m definitely feeling like I’ve been caught in the hype maelstrom of something a bit here.
Baby Berserk, who I’m fairly sure I’ve seen before, have jumped on for support tonight. I believe they’re on a couple of dates also so this will no doubt be a super high-profile show for them to get onto!
Admittedly Baby Berserk are probably a bit at odds with their match for Angine De Poitrine, but the sort of leftfield take on ‘80s synth pop does fall in line with being that bit unusual. A distinctly different set up than you’d expect also, no drummer, just a singer, a guitarist (with some synths), and a synth player with a couple of drum bits.
There’s some feeling of Duran Duran, Erasure, OMD, Eurythmics, all that good dreamy synth pop but with a singer that delivers vocals with a bit more of a punk vibe. It’s a very arty sort of delivery, outfits that have that new romantic take on 50s style, the singer stomps around the stage with brash feminine energy while the other two are much more subdued. It’s not all ‘80s completely, there’s a bit of that early ‘90s sort of hip-hop pop in there too along the lines of Deee-Lite.
Baby Berserk are a pretty interesting band to watch that scratches the itch of being a bit of an oddball but musically really interesting. I feel the crowd here might be a bit non-plussed given that they’re all here for a bit of chin-stroky microtonal math rock but the integrity to go all in with the audience like this is a proper testament to Baby Berserk. I quite enjoyed this and I don’t doubt I’ll see them around again in future.
A surge of people in polka dot outfits that are fully committed to the bit makes me feel like I’ve landed in the middle of a cult.
After a bit of a delay than expected, the duo takes the stage and makes their characteristic nonsensical noise that sounds like a Mongolian throat singer has stubbed his toe while high. The next moment the weirdest motion to clap along I’ve seen ever is going on with them clapping their, uh, heads? I dunno at this point.
Hearing this live is definitely a fair bit different to their recordings, they’ve got the freedom and skills to fuck about live and I don’t doubt they’ve got the intention of doing that tonight too. Seeing that nose swing about on the drummer as he’s playing constantly is genuinely distracting.
And just as I expected, ‘Yor Zarad’ kicked off a massive pit in the middle thanks to its intense peak and breakdown, I’m just surprised it’s so early in the set! Using the single most awkward drinking straw I’ve ever seen, the drummer takes a long slurp and then mockingly makes noises similar to the random Dutch being shouted out by the room.
I think what gets me the most is that this is an order of magnitude better sounding than my already pretty high expectations. For a duo this show is super loud and with a punchy as hell sound to go with it, their recordings generally feel quite tight and “small” when listening but this live sound really is quite something. They attempt at one point to get people to clap along with one of their more bizarre rhythms which I appreciate the effort but even Animals As Leaders struggle to get people to do that.
Even their drum tech, who appears for a brief moment to fix the hi-hat, has style, so quick and even flips the nut in the air before catching it and dashing off stage. The fact that their drummer keeps vigorously tapping his bottle whenever he’s drinking from it is bloody hilarious too. It’s a full package beyond just the music, bizarre antics, bonkers crowd participation that feels like it’s pilates on acid, it’s all a bit fucking weird and I love it.
Ultimately, we get about an hour with the French-Canadian duo, it almost covers both EPs but not quite but given what they’re doing on stage I can imagine this is quite taxing to do. Either way I’m happy to be able to catch them on a tour like this because this show especially has been phenomenally popular and had thousands of people scrambling for tickets.
They’re clearly happy to capitalize on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that most bands rarely ever get the chance to.
What a remarkably ridiculous show in the best way possible, unbelievably tight and I hope they won’t be away too long.
I do wonder if ArcTanGent is going to be able to grab them next year: it would be a ridiculous show on the main stage by no doubt!
- The tour continues:
