Drenge

Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff | 5 June

Back in Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach, the location of Drenge’s now bordering on legendary Sŵn Pyjama Party, the Derbyshire duo shuffle nonchalantly on stage. This time not in pyjamas unfortunately, but still hoping to recreate the same raw, powerful sound that threatened to blow the doors off not so long ago. While it may not have been long since Drenge lost their festival headline virginity in Cardiff, they’ve come a long way since. 

Lless than half way through opener Face Like a Skull the sold out crowd are already heaving and shoving, queuing up to stage-dive and soaking up every gritty grunge riff Drenge can throw at them. Drenge, nonplussed by the chaos ensuing around them, flow effortlessly through 2013’s self-titled debut uninterested in anything other than the music. The setlist doesn’t let up for a second; broken drums, missed lyrics, beer cans whizzing past their heads and an increasingly rowdy crowd don’t stir as much as a break in the Loveless brothers’ eyelines.

Unfortunately, much like their setlist, Drenge’s 2014 is unrelenting. They’re pushing themselves to the limit with endless festivals and shows in every town that will have them, and it’s perhaps starting to show. Whilst not resting on their laurels is of course a positive, it appears even they have their limits. By no means sounding tired or disappointing, the show is just ever so slightly more laboured than we’re used to from Drenge. It’s not an obvious tiring; just a strained look on Eoin Loveless’s face as he screams the final chorus of Fuckabout and an exasperated glance from Rory as they announce two more songs. Maybe it’s the busy year, or maybe it just because they were out last night ironically clad head to toe in Kasabian merchandise appropriated from who knows where.

Since the release of their debut Drenge have found themselves propelled right to forefront of everything that is British guitar music, shaking played-out stale bands awake and pointing out so much that was wrong with the scene seemingly by accident. It’s still baffling that such a domineering sound can come from two humble brothers from the English countryside. And yet Drenge clearly have no intention of slowing, the smattering of new material showcased tonight shows yet further range and an exciting future while established favourites such as Let’s Pretend and Nothing are reminiscent of all the angst and bite showcased throughout Drenge’s short but already noteworthy career.

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Words: Henry Boon