Heres a review from our MCA show by Danny Hardiman.
<3 pvp
Gig Review:
Museum of Contemporary Art- Papa vs Pretty
20/09/2009
Playing at the Museum of Contemporary Art is always a good gig- the setting is intimate, the acoustics incredible and the general ambience like a subtle hint of raw energy fused with the magical gleam of alternative rock- all of which determined the Papa vs Pretty gig damned exciting before the band had even kicked off. Of course, however, when you’re standing around drinking mocktails, supping the sublime excellence of various delicacies, no one could help but greet the start of the set with a small quiver of anticipation- this was my fourth time I’ve seen Papa vs Pretty (the second time at the MCA) and, might I add, Papa vs Pretty, as always, surpassed my expectations with their dynamic brand of indie-rock, from the opening chords of “Sleep (again)” through to the more sombre (but no less kick-arse) “Shoot”. The band have only matured since the last time I saw them, with the drumming echoing the beat of the music to a pulsating rhythm in complete harmony with the rest of the band, and the unity of the set simply astounding given the relatively young age of the members. Front man Thomas Rawle seemed as passionately motivated as always, indulging in some serious numbers that seemed to reflect the familiar feelings of angst and loneliness inherent in adolescents, but never- NEVER- to the point where it appeared whiney or self-indulgent. The guitar licks and riffs rolled off the guitar with intense frenzy; the bass and drums remaining the constant force behind the music, no less talented than the guitar work, and in their consistency truly imitating music normally associated with far more "established" bands- Papa vs Pretty are an exciting band- dynamic and explosive- and to miss them whilst they’re still playing at local, intimate settings is worthy of eternal pity – this band are going to be big, trust me on that.
By Danny Hardiman