Review: Squid, SWX – ‘They are relentless’

Squid at SWX was a result of a pact me and my friends had made to 100% see them again after loving their set at Green Man Festival this summer.

I couldn’t believe my luck when they announced a double bill of shows at SWX. We rushed to catch support act Blue Bendy.

Singer Arthur Nolan admitted to being a tad nervous about this gig, seeing that this was a massive show for them and the crowd were here in force to see Squid.

He was noticeably nervous on stage, turns out he had no reason to be! Because his band are awesome and clearly worthy of this stage and slot.  Nolan’s intensely spoken word is accompanied by jazz-like dreamy acoustic delights.

The band seemed like close friends as share smiles with each other and seemed very happy to be here as they treat us to a little jam to thank squid, a song about Hinge, and a song about swans.

What more could you want?  New single Mr Bubblegum brings the show to a compelling end and it’s clear this band are on the precipice of something special.

As we wait for Bristol-based indie gods Squid in a now jam-packed SWX., I chat to Elaine who’s travelled all the way from Coleraine in Northern Ireland to see Squid for the first time.

As the lights die on drunken conversations Squid fill the stage with every instrument imaginable. They open with Swing (In a Dream) which sets the precedence for the night. The drum beat thumps and their busy hands. T

he song reaches a climactic screaming finale which is so intense I can’t help thinking we are three songs into the set.  A complicated band with a simple plan to make.

G.S.K is stupendous, it’s two’s and throws between pure emotion of Ollie Judge’s vocals and the trumpet which is never far from the rhythm of each song. Reminding me of Modest Mouse at their finest.

The song reduces and reduces just leaving us with inspired applause Ollie plays Drums and sings as if it’s nothing, it is not, it’s so impressive that I kind of forget then remember how fucking good that is throughout the show.

As If You Had Seen the Bull’s Swimming Attempt You Would Have Stayed Away creeps along and has me transfixed thinking this the greatest band of all time, as I allow myself to get carried away, my phone is then knocked out of my hand luckily collected and returned by a lovely person.

Squid are louder, heavier, faster, and more bombastic than I could have imagined. They are relentless. A perfect mix of complicated simplicity for people who like music played on washboards and kidney beans.

Each song could go anywhere and usually does, it’s like watching a fireworks display as the songs constantly explode in different unexpected angles and directions.

The Blades is the show-stopper.  “We Spin, We Dive” Judge sings as the crowd do just this and start flying around all over the place from front to back as the mosh pit is infectious and envelops the place like an indie tide.

No encore is needed. Goodnight.  I now wish I’d been to both shows and a few more as I write this, I’ve still got a buzz from the show, which is a sign of a very special show.

Main photo:  Tristan Tremethick

Read next:

• Review: Baxter Dury, SWX – ‘Full of joy’
• Review: The New Cut, Crofters Rights – ‘My new favourite Bristol band’
• Review: Levert, The New Room – ‘Spontaneous, unplanned magic’

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