L.A. Witch @ Mono, Glasgow, 21 Sep
L.A. Witch were cruelly denied the opportunity to perform at the Glasgow date on their European tour earlier this year but they manage to make up for it tonight
Just three days into their European tour in February, the Californian three-piece had their van broken into in Bristol. Over $4000 worth of their equipment was stolen and their van required repairs, meaning they were unable to perform at their scheduled Glasgow show that night. Returning tonight courtesy of Glasgow’s resident psych enthusiasts Freakender, singer/guitarist Sade Sanchez, bassist Irita Pai and drummer Ellie English seem to relish the opportunity to be back.
The setting in Mono may appear more suited to a school fair than a gig, with bunting hanging from the ceiling and childlike paintings lining the walls, but as soon as that first note hits, there’s definitely no more child’s play. The trio play much of their self-titled debut album, taking us through the slow grunge of Brian to the bluesy garage-rock of Untitled. You Love Nothing is a rollercoaster of reverb, fuzzy guitar riffs and thrashing drums, slowing to a jam halfway through before building to a full-on rock-out.
They close their set with a feisty rendition of Good Guys, which sees Sanchez sassily wagging her finger while singing 'Don’t you dare cross me.' The crowd don’t let them get away that easily though and they return for a much-demanded encore, featuring one new song, which Sanchez announces is unfinished but “fuck it”, and album closer Get Lost.
This may not be the dingy dive bar setting so many associate L.A. Witch’s music with but their songs stand up just enough for it to work.