There’s none so happy tonight as Ethan Miller, Howlin’ Rain’s singer and guitar noodler. His band are cruising through their 28th straight boogie number, plaid shares are up, and Carter looks like getting a second term. Howlin’ Rain have a great furry Muppets look going on, simultaneously hairy and balding, but they can’t please the audience section who aren’t keen on hoary man rock, so it’s out for an alleyway break, fags in the rain and support band dissection.
Cut open the Yellow Moon Band, and they’re made of organic campfires, hippy goodness amplified and distorted. They’ve got the Buddha-like warmth of Green Man benefactors, and they’re not afraid to rock, which is good when leaning on the noise mantras, less good on a trebly, widdly tip. Zumbar were left to bring the low end fun, their caveman riff rock half Sabbath, half a succession of slow landslides. So much fun there’s always two or more band members grinning per song. Top drawer, action figures next time please.
Back inside, and trying to work out if this is the same number we left on. Or the same year.
Vivers
