Since its humble beginnings in the US eight years ago, Record Store Day has become a music fan’s public holiday. While Lauren Laverne has christened Glastonbury “The Christmas of music”, RSD – particularly when considering the timing this year – is more “The Easter of music”. It’s much more of a casual affair, and one celebrating the resurrection in popularity of one of our most loved formats, turning record stores and other areas of cities up and down the country into one huge festival. And as any festival goer will know, the best things are often those that are hidden away.
In the basement of Liam Gallagher’s Pretty Green store on Carnaby Street, four-piece Slydigs delivered an acoustic take on their Stones/Dylan influenced debut. Although it’s titled ‘Never To Be Tamed’, this is perhaps one of the band’s calmest performances to date, but one that isn’t short on attitude or energy. Single ‘Bang, Bang And My Bullet Was Gone’ easily adapted to a simpler arrangement, with frontman Dean Fairhurst’s gravel-tones (perhaps with the help of his hat) assisting in creating a country-twang, no doubt part of the Stones influence, and also heard in a cover of ‘Sweet Virginia’.
As with the band that made Gallagher a household name, vocal duties were shared, with guitarist Louis Menguy taking the lead on the Dylan-esque ‘Dreams Of Yesterday’, but for fans of the band the highlight of the set was the chance to hear new music from upcoming EP ‘Down With The Mockery’. With bottles of Budweiser handed about and upbeat, honest music providing the soundtrack, Slydig’s proved that while vinyl is arguably the most favoured format for music playback, hearing it live will always be the best way to experience it. And the more intimate and obscure the venue, the better. Catch Slydigs on tour up and down the country throughout May for the sort of unashamed indie rock ‘n’ roll – influenced by Great British recording artists – that themselves (and acts like Dexters and The Family Rain) are bringing back from the brink. With any luck, there’ll be an acoustic moment or two as well.
Photos: Jack Slade
Dan Bull
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