Wooden Shjips - Sound Control Manchester
The first thing that strikes you about Wooden Shjips is that they look like a 70's prog rock outfit which perhaps explains the maturity of the audience in attendance tonight. As such there is a nodding of heads that ousts any vigorous crowd movement. Apart from drummer Omar Ahsanuddin bobbing up and down whilst playing, there is minimal movement about the stage from the band too. Instead they just ride the grooves (and I mean really ride the grooves- all the way to Paititi) they create and cast shadows on the back wall. The shadows they cast are a result of projections, which feature as a large part of their show, and are cast upon them. First shimmering lights hit the ceiling, band and backdrop, followed by vital life signs running across the wall, before sine waves take over.
This seems apt because Wooden Shjips themselves create rich waves of sound as the guitar soars back and forth over the rhythm section. The drummer and bassist are permanently locked in an eternal groove, their repetition hypnotic. However disappointingly it seems they execute this same exercise every song. Indeed the rhythm section does literally just that: rhythm. No embellishments whatsoever! Ever! As such the high points are Ripley Johnson's soaring guitar solos: rich and deep in effects. They possess an expansive sound reminiscent of Meat Puppets guitar solos.
They are truly a modern day psychedelic band. The mirrored scribbles on the wall suit their trance inducing set. To make it appear even more like a trip, instead of talking or interacting in any form, they fill up the time in between songs with affected sound clips, and after getting somewhat accustomed to the abstract black and white projected images, they shift into colour half way through the set. If this band were a drug they would be some scary mushrooms. Their music asks you to ride the wave and due to the repetitive nature of their songs you best get onboard. Then once the show is over you have to leave the good Shjip, file out and wonder where all the time has gone.