The Moshville Times - IDestroy / The Hammerin’ Tongs / Tongue Trap

First up tonight is young up and coming all girl band from Edinburgh called Tongue Trap. The girls formed back in December 2015 according to chatty drummer Sam, having all met at Edinburgh’s Girls Rock School. ing Sam are Kim on vocals/guitar and Emma on bass/vocals.

The girls played a short but entertaining set with snappy, catchy tracks like “Celery”, “Period Pants” and “Taco Tuesday”. The girls still have that grungy sound which I love and they do an interesting cover of “Oblivion” by Grimes. A great start to the evening. Go and catch them if you can – I will certainly be going to see them again at some point.

It seems to be a night for new bands with the middle act, The Hammerin’ Tongs, who class themselves as an indie rock n roll band from Glasgow only being around for 4 months with this current lineup. The band consist of Ben on vocals/guitar, Brian on bass, James on drums and Andy on guitar.

They have a very varied taste in music and it shows in the boys’ live shows. They come across very much in the vein of early UK punk meets the Cure (at least for me), and have that raw twangy sound. With edgy tracks like “Fun”, which is kinda rocky/punky/grungy all in one, it was a fun set. They also have tracks like “What Would Your Father Say” which is more in the tone of the Cure. The band show their love for early punk with a great cover of “Teenage Kicks” by The Undertones towards the end of a great wee set. The young band scene is in good hands tonight with two great acts so far. I would totally recommend The Hammerin’ Tongs for a good night out. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for them.

Setlist:

Whatever Happened To Us
Fun
Follow the Darkness
101
Roller Buyer Fag Supplier
Wait and See
Teenage Kicks
What Would Your Father Say
Oh Eh Oh

So onto the headliners from Bristol, IDestroy who are touring on the back of their first 4 track EP Vanity Loves Me. Check out the official quirky video for the title track down below. The band consist of Becky (bassist with both IDestroy and Triaxis), Bec (vocals/guitar with both IDestroy and The Blue Aeroplanes) and Jenn on drums. As well as the whole EP played tonight we get a taste of new songs destined for further EPs before possibly an album may be required.

The band kick off a set list laced with rock n’ roll with some “Pins and Needles” with Jenn packing a punch in the rear, Becky’s swagger on the bass and Bec nailing it with a vocal swagger all her own. A real rocking start which sets the pace for the night ahead. We have a bit of “Bitter Love” next, a touch slower but a great track nonetheless, before “Shameful Pride” leads us into the first of the EP tracks.

The title track, “Vanity Loves Me”, deserves to be huge. It has the lot – “rock Grrl” style, punchy bass rhythm, hook lines… a stunning piece of bouncy rock. The band’s namesake is up next in IDestroy with it’s catchy hooks, and Bec’s guitar swirling around, as they say IDestroy, IDestroy , IDestroy everthing, I believe it. We get all Claustrophobic before the girls start Talking Shit from the EP, with Bec’s guitar leading us in with such catchy riff’s it’s easy to see this EP taking off big style, stunning track. We rock through Saw a Sign next and we then get all State of the Art last track from the EP and again another hook laden masterpiece from the girls. The girls close too short a set with Oceans, this is a band heading places with power rock ballad laden tunes. The girls play for keeps with hooks and an attitude to boot, these girls are no flash in the pan and I so look forward to catching up with them live again and their next releases. If you get the chance go see them, bouncing will be happening along with big grins, tapping of feet and screams for more, get the EP and see them live, guaranteed to please.