ARTERY is in its second life tonight at the Red Room. Energetic, musically tight and possessed – the set has the vigour of a band first time round, not a group that had its heyday over three decades ago.
But, despite the dynamism of the set, the venue did little to enhance the band's music. Playing on a cordoned-off dance floor, the setting does not compliment a post punk act.
Despite this Artery plays an engaging set of classics and newer materi
al. Frontman Mark Gouldthorpe – much like in old footage of Artery gigs – has a mad glint in his eye, reacting to the music with strange moves and jerky reactions, as if his entire soul were possessed by it.
The crowd is half curious young people and half diehard fans from Artery's earlier days (they formed in 1978). The latter's a dedicated lot, mouthing lyrics verbatim.
The two-part audience confirms this is a band in two very different places – half looking back to the past, half engrossed in the present. Sadly, the former's taken for granted – few of Artery's songs are introduced to the crowd.
Musically the set's marked by insistent bass and drums with swirling keys over the top. There's an onslaught of percussion – percussion on keys and percussion with the guitarist, as he beats a makeshift cowbell. The band's unique, edgy aesthetic is somewhat at odds with their dress sense – all wearing jeans and T-shirts like middle-aged dads in a pub band.
Finally, as if to assert where Artery is in relation to its past and present existence, Gouldthorpe rounds off shouting: "THIS IS THE FUTURE."
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