Music / Kagoule
Review: Kagoule, The Louisiana
Before alt-rock trio Kagoule take to the stage the noticeably young audience of The Louisiana are treated to an indie disco party courtesy of support band Catholic Action.
The Glaswegian five-piece bop along with the audience as they throw out the bouncy pop bangers they’re known for into the crowd, and everyone goes mad for it. It would be impossible to pretend that the band is breaking any new ground with their energetic material, but no one gives a flying one. It’s Saturday night and the band are excited to show the audience a good time. Their charismatic frontman, Chris McCrory, even boasts that he has some “cheap Glasgow hash” to flog alongside their merch, what an offer, eh?
Kagoule climb onto the stage with swagger – despite their youth this band have been touring hard for years now, and the pay-off is that they’re ridiculously tight. Each member reads the others’ cues seemingly automatically, and soon the band are shooting their clever post-punk hits out like clockwork, eschewing lengthy between-song chat for smirking affectionately down at the front row which is made up of over-eager teens absolutely going for it.
is needed now More than ever
The majority of the set is made up of yet-to-be released material, which would usually put something on a damp rag on proceedings. Luckily, it all sounds great. The first single from the forthcoming sophomore album, Monsieur Automaton, replaces the band’s previous thudding, grunge-based tunes from the first album with sharper guitars, more nimble bass lines and even stranger and more impressive drum breaks. There are also old favourites to get stuck into – Glue sounds as essential as ever, and the front row crows along with the hook.
As Kagoule tie up their impressive set with an unplanned but much-demanded encore of It Knows It, it’s hard not to get excited for that soon-to-be-released next album and for this deservedly hyped band to visit Bristol again.
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