A calamitous set, abundant with humour and a joyous silliness bordering on the crude. Shirtless, jogging and with lyrics to strike fear into the heart of any landlord, getdown services unusually paired with a full band brought a raucous unmatched energy.
Knives, another Bristol own band opened the show. Youthful and exuberant, the band looks like the football team decided to dress punk for a day. Aesthetically enjoyable and musically savage, knives are a band to watch out for.
Unsure of what was to come my subtle eavesdropping somewhat prepared me for the chaos that is knives, the conversation of the audience members in the people in front of me some what prepSomeone said like fatdog
With a juxtaposition of stage presences, the many members of knives all take different approaches to their style of performances. A base player that likes to high kick so high it reaches the gods and a lead singer with his priorities on the football, its safe to say knives is an eclectic mix.
charismatic and eclectic to a fault, lead singer Jay Schottlander is a force to be recond with, with a delivery style that draws the eye and a temperament that bewilders the mind. To mine and most of the audiences perplexed amusement, Schottlander took the time mid set to go to the bar and check the football scores.
Entering the set with a bang the duo were immediately booed, in jest most definitely. However that moment defined the set, the witty conversation between audience and band was hysterical to watch.
It wasn't just the Duo that Brought the chaos, the crowd were indeed as untamed, screaming heckling, but my favourite interaction would have to be -
Audience member : "Take your top off "
Josh Law: "we know our own show, we know what your here for" (Takes his top off)
When the phrase electronic disco is used my mind floats to abba and the Jackson five, it does not go to two shirtless middle aged men going round the stage in a manner that makes one believe delirium has taken hold, and now are being visited by the strangest of hallucinations.
Jamie Oliver infamous to school children up and down the country is featured as the prime victim for the duos comedic dissonance. Solid synthetic beats lay a base for irritatingly catch lyrics and round off to create a masterpiece that sits very much under the bracket of electronic.
Forever the comedians, the two lads intersperse the set with wildly inaccurate funny lines, a standout being Ben Sadler's derange pronouncement, 'I am Chris Martin'.
We've all heard the somewhat witty, somewhat overdone remarks of the musically untalented, the quips, - oh I would have to play the triangle in a band, or a cow Bell ... And Cow Bell there was. Displayed prominently and with Proud Jest Ben Sadler goes to town on the strangely shaped oblong instrument. Producing a steady beat and letting off a blast of Christmassy beats, Sadler does for a solid third seconds make me believe there is a skill level required to playing the cow bell.
In a twist for the duo, as a final farewell to the tour the duo invited a full band as support, bringing on an exceptional line up, all pulled from new and up and coming Bristol bands.
The supporting band were sent off half way through the set, to provide space for the duo to get up to some mischief and provide a little more space for some wild movements, I believe they described as dancing.
At one point, amid the chaos of the set the erupting sound of a fire alarm went off, ever the professionals, the duo halted then fumbled, stood there and said 'genuinely what do we do', then carried on with the set. Come Fire come rain get down services will continue to get down.
'Biscuit tin', a wildly provocative and wonderfully humorous jab at landlords, and fantastically opened with the kind words of Ben Sadler. "We are personally attacking landlords, and if you are one, you should take it personally"
Ever gracious and sophisticated the duo then prompted the audience in an almost panto esc style to collectively scream "F*ck off" to all landlords.
Get Down Services will be back in Bristol in March with new music and most definitely more eclectic behaviour.
Featured Image: Ashley EvansWill you be at their gig in march ?
