Yuck at Hang Out
A packed-out crowd for a Thursday night gig. Yuck definitely showed us they have an established fan base in Hong Kong, as the music lovers filled out the oddly-placed Hang Out in Sai Wan Ho. As Dan Blumberg eventually commented - yes, it was weird to be playing in what seemed to be a basketball court, but the graffiti that littered walls gave an intimacy to the space that definitely felt better than worse.
The opening band, The Yours, were solid, reminiscent of The Kooks in their simple but repetitive catchiness. Immersed in their playing, they ended their set with an excited collapse between the guitarists, and the crowd packed in even more. Oozing cool, Yuck began their set strong, with sound riffs that let the audience know it was time to start rockin' out.
Blumberg's vocals had an appealing vulnerability, not unlike other, slightly offbeat, off-tune singers, like Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes - though it was a tonality that had to grow on you. Max Bloom, while standing out as an amazing guitarist, played with swift, comfortable ease, but unnecessarily drowned out Mariko Doi's bass and Jonny Rogoff's drums - both who held down the fort with incredible consistency. The moments where they were given a chance to shine weren't picked up on in comparison to Bloom's sharp guitar that cut through everything. The vocal harmonies were seamless, and Bloom's nonchalant mastery of an exceptional number of pedals and effects was impressive.
Yuck's obvious musicality was nothing to be argued about, guitar melodies that led your body singing through the crisp beats, yet they lacked that on-stage technicality which brings alive recorded sounds. Blumberg's experimenting and droning of guitar effects were always dreamy and rang out perfectly with the poignancy of the lyrics… on recording. Live, his mastery of the shoegazing sound sometimes worked and sometimes just sounded like messy feedback.
The song Soothe Me was a stand-out, with lingering emotion in Blumberg's wavering voice, repeating “so soothe me / don't use me / I'm not your oxygen” until the crowd was crying out with him. Suicide Policeman was also another real killer - “I just wanted to let you know, I could be your suicide policeman” - the crowd immediately moving in ripples and waves… and how could you not?
Their English roots and influences were very noticeable, and each song proved, if not in performance but in its lyricism, why they were named one of the break-out bands of last year.
Louise Choi
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