Baby Godzilla
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER –
If you’ve been any rock festival or gig in the past 12 months, chances are you’ve seen Baby Godzilla. The Nottingham-based foursome have been working super hard on the live front this year, playing absolutely anywhere they’re asked to and with an army of fans growing at each gig and a debut full length due out next year, it looks like all their hard work is about to pay off.
Tonight we’re in the basement of Sound Control, an area rarely used within the venue, but with dim lights and cold brick walls it acts as a fitting setting for tonight’s rock show. Baby Godzilla are first of three bands this evening, the headliners being UK Hardcore outfit Feed The Rhino. As always, Baby Godzilla put on an excellent live show, as all four members play their instruments as if they hate them playing their frantic, techy brand of metal infused hardcore. Guitarists Matt and Jonny spend pretty much all of the set in the crowd, trying to find things to climb on, Jonny decides to put his cab on the bar and riff out on that, while Matt finds a window like well that he crawls up on and screams down the mic like a man possessed.
I must admit some of the set does bleed into one and is sometimes hard to distinguish certain riffs and hooks, but I think that’s always been the case when I’ve seen Baby Godzilla, because playing live to them is just about being as loud and frantic as possible. This of course is great and makes for a gripping live show which I never tire of watching because there are some real good tunes in their set and some of this is lost in their canopy of noise. Although in contradiction of this, tonight does hold some strong renditions, particularly recent single ‘The Great Hardcore Swindle’ opening with a Gallows esque and sporting a pretty catchy chorus. In fact the tunes where bassist Paul takes to lead vocals are the most memorable, he has a real strong singing voice, so I hope that the album will focus on that a little more.
In conclusion, Baby Godzilla are a truly raw and entertaining live act and to think they’ve been on the road non stop for the past year and still put that level of energy into each show is pretty incredible. I think if they continue down the path of their recently recorded material for their album, a few more hooks maybe, next year is looking to be the year of the ‘zilla!
Baby Godzilla Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
I joined the Silent Radio family near the very start of my move to Manchester in 2012 and I'm still having the best time! During my stay here I've been in two noisy bands, had a not so noisy solo project, made a zine, started a blog and started a radio show. It's been productive to say the least and it's all been intersperse with a shit load of gig going and beer drinking. I would love it if you followed me on twitter @dr_brainless for excitable tweets about playing, watching and living new music.
