Having recently released their sixth album `Landfill`, Young Knives, brothers Henry Dartnall and Thomas Bonsu-Dartnall (also known by his stage name “The House of Lords”) arrive in Birmingham on what is the final stretch of an eleven date soiree of the UK in support of said release. The guys have relocated to Oxford from their Leicestershire roots so it`s no surprise that Oxford based Max Blansjaar is the band`s special guest.
A search of social media sites has Max Blansjaar as born in Amsterdam, raised in Oxford, signed to Beanie Tapes, reasonably clean. His debut album `False Comforts` was released last June with his influences ranging from The Velvet Underground, Elephant 6, Beck to Cate Le Bon. Max`s last visit to Brum was at a recital when he was an aspiring adolescent classical pianist but has enjoyed his day here in the suburbs. He shares a delightfully endearing and enjoyable thirty odd minutes of lo-fi tunes as he moves from keys to guitars. Amongst tonight’s infectious set are songs like `I Will Not Be Forgiven`, `Anna Madonna` a song which acknowledges the hurtful nature of the world and the resulting temptation to react with anger or bitterness, the introspective `Red Tiger`, `Like A Bad Dream` which may be about recurring life challenges and `Saturnia`. An engaging performance from an artist that I’m sure we`ll hear much more of.
There`s minimal fuss as young Knives step on stage and head straight into `Fit 4 U` from the mists of time along with the jagged `Here Comes the Rumour Mill` from the fella’s debut album `Voices of Animals and Men`. The rest of the evening has the band dipping in and out of a selection of numbers from throughout their career. `Dissolution` from the latest album is shared but for me it`s tracks like `Loughborough Suicide` and `Barbarians` that really hit home and ignite this packed audience.
`Fresh Meat` which had a Flaming Lips vibe live had Henry waving a flag made out of a lace tablecloth with the words `FRESH MEAT` spray painted on it in blood red. The brother`s Mom and Dad are in the audience tonight and as it`s their Mom`s 80th birthday the next day, so we are all encouraged to shout happy birthday. A couple of new cuts follow with the hypnotic `No Sound` and jazzy `Ugly House` with the blistering `Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer)` sandwiched in between.
Henry`s children were delighted when the guys recorded a rap song with `Cause & Effect` and it`s every bit a quirky listen live with distorted vocals along with a spoken word stream of consciousness and some rolling beats. One of the final few songs is `Your Car Has Arrived` written about the tragic death of singer and guitarist Henry Dartnall’s son’s best friend, a number that was emotionally challenging to listen to and a number that the singer shared that he`s only just been able to sing live.
The idiosyncratic `Turn Tail` and the mesmerising `She`s Attracted To` close out this ninety minute set and one thing that really struck me was that this band really deserve a much wider audience but nevertheless wallow in the deserved adoration and devotion of this crowded audience. It`s a long time since I came away from a gig that left me with such a buzz. There are only four days left on this tour and I’d urge you to get along to what for me I’m sure will be, come December, one of my best gigs of the year.
