Baaneex & Shake Rag @ The Macbeth

Join the weird dance

03/08/11

Flying Dropkicks night No 10 promised to bring on stage two London bands that speak Birthday Party, The Fall and Deerhoof on their own terms: Shake Rag and Baaneex, the reason why this otherwise quiet Wednesday is gradually looking up.  Shake Rag are the side project of Santiago Horro, bassist of hardcore wackos Nought, and tonight they introduce themselves on stage for the first time. Adding two guitars and drums to his familiar bass, the band is Birthday Party alright: Determined, aggressive and raw, only the female vocals ultimately differentiating their sound.  Part Siouxsie Sioux and part Diamanda Galas, the voice of Shake Rag is morbidly beautiful and imposing; but also a frontwoman completely unattached to the driven backing combo, her lifeless body language failing to back up her own… Devil Mouth.
Baaneex, on the other hand, are a completely different deal. Brash, cheeky and fairly nutty, they know how to laugh with themselves – and make some serious noise in the meantime.
Three nerdy looking guys and one mean female drummer wavering from unorthodox rock guitars (occasionally reminiscent of The Pixies) to unforgiving punk screams and very menacing “Dracula-inspired” keys. They’ve built up a reputation for being somekind of weirdos in the live circuit (well, playing Weird Dance 1, 5, 7 and 8 in one night doesn’t really help), but they are by far one of the most intelligent and ass-kicking bands currently hovering around London.  Best of all, they are truly and utterly unpretentious.
A rare commodity these days…

Review and photography by Danai Molocha, aka rockets4solitude, for http://the-macbeth.tumblr.com/