Complex and heavy.
Glassjaw had their biggest successes before the explosion of identikit haircuts and fashion victims decided this was the scene for them, so this almost sold out gig at Cardiff University Great Hall is host to a slightly older more sedate crowd than the usual Friday night might attract. This does have a down side though because the crowd are slower to get going, when they finally get excited though the on stage atmosphere really picks up speed.
Glassjaw don’t have the best record for gigs in the UK, Daryl Palumbo’s struggle with Crohns Disease often scuppering any tours they have booked, so unsurprisingly at the moment this short tour is confined to three nights, this one and two Give It A Name dates. This makes this chance to see them a rare treat (especially in Wales) and once they get warmed up they really deliver a great performance.
Their set tonight is mostly tracks from the two previous albums “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence” and “Worship and Tribute” reminding the audience of what they’ve been missing and of just how good they can be, but there are also tantalising glimpses of new material; these tracks are heavier and more straightforward than tunes from their last album, sounding very much like old school “EYEWTKAS” Glassjaw; this is probably due to the fact that they now have some of the original line up back together once more (hopefully on good terms) and a sign that they are more than ready to get back down to business.
This is post-hardcore as it should always be played; heavy and aggressive yet tuneful but also jagged and off kilter and with thoughtful lyrics. Manuel Carrero is astounding on bass, pulling off Glassjaw’s trademark complex bass lines and Palumbo moves around the stage like a man with a snake down his trousers; wriggling, jerking, jumping and pulling the most bizarre grimaces, gurning like a mad man, he owns the stage. This is a powerful performance from a great band; it’s great to have them back.