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Probably one of the finest bills put together this year, Joyce Manor<\/b>\u2019s jaunt around the UK offered the chance to see two US acts that have put out stellar records this year AND one of the UK underground\u2019s finest up-and-coming acts. It\u2019s just a shame no-one told the M25 to behave.<\/p>\n
Even setting off 3 hours before Great Cynics<\/strong> were due on stage was not enough to get to North London in time to see the London\/Devon mob. Instead, a hole had reduced the UK\u2019s busiest motorway to a crawl for 8 junctions, meaning by the time we slipped into the Dome there was barely enough time to settle in before Cheap Girls<\/strong> took to the stage.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no faulting the Michigan trio musically. Drawing heavily off this year\u2019s excellent \u2018Famous Graves\u2019<\/i> they power through a 45 minute set without letting up. Audience participation is kept to a minimum \u2013 indeed, the most they mutter doesn\u2019t extend much beyond a courteous \u2018hi\u2019 \u2013 but they sound great throughout with the likes of \u2018Knock Me Over\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Pure Hate\u2019<\/em> having a bit more of an edge than they do have on record. However, they\u2019re not the most exciting band to watch, despite the copious amounts of shaggy hair and plaid on show. As a result, they\u2019re met with nodding heads and polite appreciation rather than rapturous applause. A fellow punter at the bar will describe them as \u201ca little bit dull\u201d, which is a harsh considering the quality of the songs, (especially the excellent \u2018Man In Question\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Ruby\u2019<\/em>,) but in truth it\u2019s more that they\u2019re a bit too one-dimensional live to really set the pulse racing. (3\/5)<\/p>\n Joyce Manor<\/strong> have no such problems. Walking out to Elvis Costello\u2019s \u2018Oliver\u2019s Army\u2019<\/i> they immediately rip into \u2018Constant Headache\u2019<\/em> and the place goes off. In a strong one-two they follow it up with \u2018Derailed\u2019<\/em> and in that instant it\u2019s clear they\u2019ve got the audience right on side \u2013 no doubt important following recent spats regarding stage divers at the shows in the States.<\/p>\n Like Cheap Girls<\/strong>, Joyce Manor <\/strong>also have a new album to draw off, and they do so heavily. \u2018Schley\u2019<\/em>, \u2018In The Army Now\u2019, <\/em> \u2018Victoria\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Heart Tattoo\u2019<\/em> all get an airing, and all get welcomed like old friends \u2013 \u2018Victoria\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Heart Tattoo\u2019<\/em> in particular provoking mass sing-alongs in the process. For an album out barely four months, it\u2019s a remarkable achievement.<\/em><\/p>\n