Review: Clash issue launch with The Other Tribe @ Soup Kitchen, 07/12/12

The basement floor of Manchester’s Soup Kitchen is pretty much what I look for in a venue. Small, dark and dingy enough to make me feel at home, without  being too rough to be intimidating.

It was the prime setting for Clash Magazine’s Issue launch. Couple of tins of reasonably priced-Red Stripe down us, and we were ready to dance.

We arrived in time to catch the last-minute main support - Manchester’s current band-to-watch, Swiss Lips. It’s basically pop music, but pop music if it was written for people with the brain to turn off ITV on a Saturday evening and stick on Radio 6 instead. Heavily reflective of 80s influences, Swiss Lips sound great live and straddle the divide between decent guitar-pop and dreamy dance music. I can firmly state however, that they are stood on the wall rather than sitting on the fence.

Headliners The Other Tribe are an act I may have tried in the past to dislike. They are young, cool, incredibly current and have a metric-tonne of talent within their ranks; basically everything that annoys my ageing mind. Dislike them, however, I cannot. The Other Tribe mix influences similar to a plethora of other acts, but somehow manage to stand-out. No doubt the neon paint and tribal attire help out, but without that the tunes would still be there. This is a band which makes a crowd dance with minimal effort - Jane’s Addiction style percussive layering and raw sex-appeal meets a house sound akin to their native Bristol, creating a groove which is impossible to ignore.

After a summer of seeing them win over fans at muddy festivals, it’s good to see them shine on their first debut tour. Forget about fads or trends which the happen to fit into; the Other Tribe are certainly here for the long-term.

Words: Joseph Sheridan-Ruddy

Photo: The Other Tribe

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