The Crapsons, the two renegade musicians from the Wirral, responsible for bringing life to epic songs such as ’42 Wheelie Bins’ and ‘Clotheslined By a Nun’ have been not so quietly organising a one day festival under the innovative name Crapfest for the last few years.
This year see’s the event grow to three stages across two separate venues: Liverpools EBGBs basement (and Heebie Jeebies Courtyard) and the Jacaranda Club basement are the locations for over 20 separate bands/acts.Its impossible to see all the acts but we give it a go
It starts at about 2pm in the afternoon for us with the outrageous noise that is Bleach Sweets in the EBGBs basement. This duo generate a sheer volume of noise and aggression that can make a full band appear tame by comparison. There’s humour in their lyrics with vocals ably delivered by the drummer who manages to sing well and deliver some fantastic playing on the kit. The sonic landscape is added to by a guitarist who’s instinct for melody and rhythm lead him to creating something unique from the 6 stringed instrument. It’s a wild ride and augurs well for the festival.
Out of the basement and into the Heebie Jeebies Courtyard to soak up a little of the occasional sun and take the volume down with an acoustic performance from Sheepy’s bass player Katy McGrath. She hits her acoustic guitar furiously and her powerful and melodic voice soars across the courtyard delivering sharp observed songs about the human condition.
Back downstairs Tits Up are a new band to me but they make a big impression. They produce an often low key, always low-fi, dark sound that veers from the grungeyness of say L7 or Bleach era Nirvana, to the passion of Patti Smith. Moments of quietly delivered melodies are smashed into with deliberate harsh tribal upsurges in volume and speed led by the bass and complimented by sharp and often jagged guitar bursts.
The courtyard holds another surprise in the shape of Oorya. Pronounced we are told at full (and genuinely shocking) volume as ‘Who Are Yer!’. This is musical equivalent of a shock and awe campaign in war, lightning fast in responses to the audience, content that goes out of its way to be simultaneously shocking and yet mundane, acoustic guitars, electronic backing tracks and a take no prisoners attitude provide a unique and often hilarious 30 minutes of entertainment. Oorya wears a set of plastic horns,, ‘love yer horns’ yells one of the crowd, ‘I grew them myself’. Fantastic and breathtaking.
Further experiments in grunginess are found in the form of Kin. Its loud, its quiet, repeated themes are explored fully and with a musical creativity and sensitivity rare in most bands. The machine briefly stops as the band ask if someone is in the crowd, then announce they’ve found his bus pass. Kin are rare in bringing together people and providing an intense musical experience.
The growling acoustic music of Mike West, an Appalachian sounding growling assault that he describes as Not Country Enough. Not Blues Enough. Not Folk Enough.Too Heavy. Its’ a perfect description spoilt only by the facts that he is more than enough country, is very bluesy and has a rootsy folk sound that is raw and passionate. Well, yeah, it’s still somehow manages to sound very heavy. Mike West music and his performance are extremely focussed, there a lot of pent up energy realising slowly throughout and the control he keeps ensures the songs stories are delivered.
Spam Javelin are long one of our favourites here at Last Stop Sounds. Today you can see why. The band is musically tight, full of great songs and great introductions and explanations of the songs. This ones about a Chief Constable who was convicted of paedophilia and died in prison. They take a political stand with their music that although often shrouded in humour is honest and straight, exemplified by songs like Nazi Line Dancers. The pending drums and dark bass lines are matched by guitar playing that is subtle one minute and all out punk the next, its a good trick to be a good guitar player but not let the audience realise it! Humour and honesty and great songs played well, Spam Javelin have it all. We briefly have event organisers Crapsons dragged on stage, there task is to yell insults at each other at the top of their voices for the two minutes or so of the track as backing vocals. They are almost fit to drop by the end of it!
Things take a darker turn musically with Takotsubo Men. This band is intense. They can make a huge noise but its focussed and penetrates the mind and they frequently take it all down to nearly nothing. and bring the crowd with them. Its not often you can hush an audience but Takotsubo Men have that ability, songs slowly reduce to a bare bones vocal line and a transfixed crowd stop making noise. EBGBs was eerily quiet near the end of their set. Sometimes deeply unsettling with highly personal and deep songs about subjects such as cancer that are delivered with extreme intensity and control. I feel drained by the end of their set but if they were to play again a minute later I would find myself heading over to watch and listen.
We head over to the Jacaranda basement for a while. Elevant are on and it’s been a while since we’ve seen these. Elevant are also about musical intensity, they create waves of sonic assaults that can fill any room with sheer volume but there’s a direction to it all, deep melodies are hidden in their attack, they have that My Bloody Valentine thing of using noise as an instrument but still containing a solid musical direction. Sometimes to me (and I’ve had this conversation with a few and know its only me!) they have a fleeting but similar feel to the likes of Tool. It all builds up in intensity and by the end there is an explosion of noise matched by frenetic activity on the stage.
Still in the Jacaranda, all plans on moving from site to site gone as it’s too complicated by now, too hot and the Last Reserves start up making me want to stay and watch them. This is like old school punk meets Motorhead. Its fast and powerful stuff, led by a front person capable of keeping you listening and who’s colours are nailed to the mast about politics and mental health issues and backed by a slick fast growling and howling noise machine. Drums and bass lock in tight and keep it fast and guitar expertly hits melodic leads one minute and then impassioned roaring the next.
The Mighty Bossmags land from outer space. The world will never be the same again, at least for the next 30 or so minutes. They drag us off into a ska/techno/punk/funk infused landscape where lizard overlords and pirates fight to save our musical souls. They are, extremely tight, they are also extremely danceable to. It’s a blur of motion, bright colours, costume changes and trance rhythms that explode upwards into joyous ska choruses. Unpredictable and truly eclectic and amazing fun.
Mouses are a drum and guitar duo. They are also loud, fast, talented, musical and capable. Their music veers off from straight forward punk, it contains fragments of other sounds even to my rubbish ear, The Who. Sitting ontop of the frantic guitar and drum layers though its the vocals that grab my attention. To be careering around the stage (and on on occasion careering through the drum kit and not the floor) and yet deliver such a great singing performance is something to be heard to be believed. These Mouses roar big.
First time I’ve seen Gen and the Degenerates and its a good experience, quality musicianship all around, strong songs and an excellent vocalist. Amidst the punk roar sometimes I’m hearing Guns n Roses or some other big American guitar band, but they stamp their own identity on the music quickly and continue to make a lot of noise and entertain greatly.
We get to the finale, the gig organisers themselves, The Crapsons are starting up at EBGS to an even more packed audience than it had been earlier. This is a capacity crowd and they are all here for these local hero’s. These are the bringers of classic observational songs such as 42 Wheelie Bins that are distorted through a powerful punk music machine withy grinding baselines and sharply precise drums. They are joined onstage by Krystian from Salt the Snail and Society of Losers, in full Nun outfit, a lot of the audience seem to have brought their own habits and we are in danger of turning into a Nunnery, albeit one thats jumping up and down and crowd surfing.
There is plenty of crowd surfing, lots of good natured moshing and after watching bands starting some 8 hours ago this is the perfect way to let go, drain any last energy and breath.
A fantastic event, Crapsons ask ‘Should we do it next year?’ and the crowd give a resounding cry of ‘Yes’! Already looking forward to it.
Words: RBY, Photos RBY/ADrian Wharton
Bleach Sweets: https://www.facebook.com/bleachsweets
Katy McGrath: https://www.facebook.com/katy.mcgrath.39
Tits Up: https://www.facebook.com/tiitsupband
Oorya: https://www.facebook.com/OORYAMUSIC
Kin: https://www.facebook.com/We3Kin
Mike West: https://www.facebook.com/mike333west
Spam Javelin: https://www.facebook.com/spamjavelinuk
Takotsubo Men: https://www.facebook.com/TakotsuboMen
Elevant: https://www.facebook.com/ElevantMusik
Last Reserves: https://www.facebook.com/LastReservesBand
Mighty Bossmags: https://www.facebook.com/Bossmags
Mouses: https://www.facebook.com/mousestheband
Gen and the Degenerates: https://www.facebook.com/gensdegenerates
Crapsons: https://www.facebook.com/crapsons