Another trip to Swansea, this time though it was less about death and more about groove as the stoner/desert legend Nick Oliveri again rolled into The Bunkhouse. Last time he played an acoustic show this time it was full electric, opting for two local supports rather than a tour one, it was a way of giving back, something that Oliveri seems very keen to do. Before the show and between the sets he was in the smoking area with the audience happily chatting and posing for selfies, affable and just enjoying himself. I can’t see his former band mate Josh Homme doing the same, can you? He seems a really cool guy, that is until he’s on stage but we’ll get to that later.
Getting two local supports that fit the bill perfectly is a skill and luckily the IBA Events guys have it in spades, opening the evening with indie/punk attack of Baby Schillaci (7), the attitude was dripping off this relatively new but experienced band as they punched out the punk riffs. Taking songs from their recent release, it was frenzied and furious, bassist Ev’s diving at the photographers at the front with his instrument (not a euphemism), as he scrambles on the front barrier. Twin vocals came into play best with the last song Dead Wrestlers, which due the jungle beat reminded my wife of Kasabian and I’ll bow to her punk and indie knowledge on this occasion.
With such an in your face opener, you could accuse Heavy On The Ride (7) of being a bit more restrained in their stagecraft, though musically just as forceful. As their intro tape of Only Time by Enya was cut by the riff to their opening song, they stopped, a problem with the lead diagnosed, lead swapped a brief shout of “Fuck Enya” and back into the riff stoner grooves. It’s that fuzzy stoner rock of QOTSA, alt tinged garage rock of the Melvins and the psych of 70’s rock units that inspire the sound of Heavy on The Ride, with a bit of modern day weight from bands such as Mastodon and Baroness as well. Veterans of the Swansea scene the trio played to a slowly building room as more came in to witness the other side of the Oliveri coin. Having played with the man himself at that acoustic show they were a no brainier support who kept the excitement in the room.
Bolstered by many on the door sales, not bad for Tuesday in festival season, it was a pretty full room that greeted Nick Oliveri and Mondo Generator (8), the greebos of Swansea and beyond packed into The Bunkhouse for some desert rock riffs filtered through dirty punk explosions. Again a trio led by Oliveri’s fuzzy, distorted bass and raw vocal, the set comprised of older songs from the Mondo records, a brand new one, Blast Off, from their album due out later this year, plus some Kyuss and QOTSA tracks for good measure (of course the ones that Nick had a lot to do with or sang on). It meant that tracks such as 13th Floor and Fuck It were blended with Green Machine or Allen’s Wrench. That really cool guy who was outside and transformed into a wide eyed madman as he and Mondo Generator carved through their set like it was a rehearsal, the packed room greeting all the songs like they were instant classics and the band like they were locals.
Mondo Generator are the last band to play in the current iteration of The Bunkhouse, it closes until August now for renovation work to improve the venue. I can’t think of a better band to bring down the roof than Mr Oliveri & Co.
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