Bull are four Yorkshiremen whose sound mixes their alt-rock influences along with vocalist Tom Beers’s down-to-earth songwriting and a particularly wry sense of humour. On Wednesday, September 29, they headed down […]
Bull got together in 2011; it started with Beer and guitarist Dan Lucas. Bull’s mission is simply to make the music they wanted to listen to, inspired by their 90’s heroes such Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and the Pixies. We’re told the rest of the band came together through a mix of friendships and happenstance, which is unsurprising as you can see the chemistry they have on stage is genuine.
As soon as the audience entered the venue, it was like stepping into a remnant of the classic music scene. As they walked up the beautiful spiral stairs and towards where all the action would happen, there was an air of anticipation. Once into the performance area, you could hear the chatter of excited people gathered to see an eclectic mix of acts all mingling together, impossible to separate each band’s fanbase.
The acts supporting Bull came from all walks of life, including Steven Adams from The Broken Family Band, Dirty Girl, and a surprise set from FEET. FEET’s involvement in the night was kept wonderfully under wraps until earlier that day.
Dirty Girl, who apparently in true riot girl tradition decided to become a band before learning to play their instruments, were very fun to watch. This female act had travelled from all over the world to play together, especially for Bull. Mainly because Dirty Girl is no longer a band and all the members play in other acts now. As well as some great songs of their own, they also performed a cover of Bikini Kill‘s ‘Feels Blind,’ which was a highlight of their set.
Next up were FEET, whose performance was spot on. By the time they had got on the stage, the room was packed, and it felt like you could fit not one more person inside. The crowd went mental from the first song but not as mental as the frontman was with that tambourine! Their performance was tight, and they were a wonder to behold, but unfortunately, as quickly as they started, their set was over, leaving the crowd wanting more.
It was ok though because before long, Bull came out to a perfect reception from the now packed room heaving with people all keen to hear what the band had to offer. They rattled through their classics and new songs alike, treating the audience to some tunes off Discover Effortless Living.
There was a slight technical hitch which led to some guitar swapping but other than that, the performance went well. Beer seemed genuinely grateful for the audience, who sang along in all the right places and danced relentlessly throughout. He also seemed most pleased with his pint of Guinness, which at one point, he managed to balance on top of his head!
The band Bull are sure to go even further in the next few years than they already have in the last few. They are a great representation of the music scene in all its unconventional uniqueness. We can honestly say that they are an act not quite like any other and trying to push through right now. On the surface, it may seem like you’ve seen it all before but trust us when we say until you’ve been to a Bull show, you haven’t, and you won’t forget them in a hurry.
Highwire Magazine 