GIG REVIEW: Coughin' Vicars, Dead Rebel and HEED CASE at The Salty Dog - Friday 13 December 2024

Words: Richie Yates, Photos: Adrian Wharton/Richie Yates

Its been a while since we’ve had the pleasure of The Salty Dog. Its one of those ace little pubs selling great ales and putting on music that dot the Cheshire landscape and keep live music going in those areas.

Heed Case are from the North East of England. They are a duo and are armed with drum and backing tracks. The backing tracks appear to be mainly special effects and spoken word parts used as song intros and the like and are effective. The music is in the hands (apart from drums) of a Guitarist and Bassist who also provide the vocals. Its earthy stuff, quite intense though occasional technology malfunctions allow the band to show a lot of humour as they deal with things. A big sound for two people, and there is a melding of straight ahead punk and a more off the wall sound going on hitting a psychedelic groove – something worth exploring as it adds a definite unique edge to their sound.

Dead Rebel are tight as ever, they reference full on grunginess and Soundgarden in particular but they’ve moved forwards with their own sound. They’ve described themselves as Doom Dance in the past and whatever that means their sound is full of heavy delicious grooves. There’s drums that remind me of Kyuss and their heavy heavy sound is fleshed out by some great vocals that dance around each other and give the songs an extra lift. Its a sound thats heavy, dark and fills the small room at the Salty Dog.

Coughin’ Vicars fill the stage then move off the stage and occupy the dance floor. There’s a minimum of fuss, a few things are tested and then with a jolt the Vicars music machine explodes forward and for the next 30 minutes there’s very little let up in music, wry observations about any subject that comes to mind and the whirling physical presence of the band. This is headed up by a singer who is as relentless as he is fascinating to watch. The music hits all manner of styles, for me it fits in with a modernised free festival sound (circa late 70s/early 80s), its heavy and yet can dance off elsewhere very suddenly going via Tubeway Army to Gong and all stops between. Sharp changes and a very tight performance keep what could become quite unwieldily totally on track. Equal parts compelling and interesting with a pinch of danger. I was so impressed I bought their latest album.