House Proud / Tin Ribs / cateyes @ Pop Recs (Sunderland)

14/12/24

Pop Recs was set for a night of post-punk infused goodness as House Proud, with local legends Tin Ribs and Leeds up-and-comers cateyes as support acts, took over the institution; three bands all of a four-piece disposition. It would be House Proud's biggest gig to date. A pay-as-you-feel system of entry was set; no one was turned away due to lack of funds.

Orange steel beams seemingly hold the building of Pop Recs up. Green straps grasp a pull-down screen from said steel beams - Pop Recs also host "POP flix" community movie nights. Remnants of the past in old wallpaper clings to the wall in patches. "Still Hate Thatcher" posters are scattered throughout the venue. Twinkling lights - it is Christmas time after all - adorn the walls and front of the stage. A shiny, blue number 3 balloon has escaped a past birthday bash/event and floats under the ceiling above the stage. The instantly recognisable duct-taped "HP" bass drum sits centre. One lone confetti-like party string sways in the breeze of the fan on stage.

cateyes would be the first act of the night.

cateyes - 19:45

"You can come forward, if you want. We can't see you all." says frontwoman Tash donning a spiked collar around her neck. The crowd shuffle forwards. The music gets underway.

From the get-go it's apparent, cateyes have been in the rehearsal room - they go from crushing to twinkly clean in no time. It's the sort of sharp-smooth mid-song transitions which suggest the tracks have gone through rigorous working. "That one was called 'Skips'."

"We're from Leeds - ages away. We've got trains and metros and it's been epic. We've got another song for you now". The band dip into the short and sweet but unfoldingly fierce "Untitled".

Guitarist James resembles a young Graham Coxon on the left and Archie a young - take your pick - Ramone on the right.

"Untitled" brings with it an applause and cateyes get straight into their next track "catgym".

James talks to himself as he plays.

Time changes offset the rhythm of the band - it makes it feel like the tracks are constantly on this grunge-y, groovy move.

"We're now gonna play a fast, heavy one that we call 'fast heavy song'."

James' glasses are taken off. I'm not sure how much longer they would have lasted with his at times vicious approach to playing guitar.

Drummer, Fin, hides behind his long, bushy hair. He manages to keep up with and more than likely sets the constant change of pace. He's got a very stoic approach to playing drums - cool, calm, collected; everything outside of him remains outside.

Gruelling guitars play on long after the song is finished. Archie Ramone plucks behind his strings - at the bottom as far as I can tell - which result in odd sound effects. James can't help but smile as he tunes his guitar in between songs. Frontwoman Tash has this cheeky, warm way with chatting and introducing songs.

cateyes lean well into the "wall of noise" aesthetic. There's no where for your ears to escape. Waves and waves of distortion wash over Pop Recs.

James takes a quick swig of water. "James is thirsty." says frontwoman Tash.

"This is called 'Shoegaze' song 'cos were not really good at naming our songs." Speaking of that "wall of noise" aesthetic......

"oh, my ears are so wet." states James as he fixes his in-ear pieces.

Glitched-out effects and wailing guitars squeeze out of the speakers like demons trying to send us audio encrypted messages.

Tash puts the bass down and James is now on bass duties. "We're gonna do a song called 'Trick' now. I hope you like it." Released back in July, a few in the crowd are familiar with this one. Tash tugs at the bottom of her shirt mid-performance. She can do the beauty and the beast vocal-wise; range is an understatement.

The bass is returned to the frontwoman for cateyes last song "Corners".

A bit of a breakdown closes out the set. The foundations of Pop Recs has been put to the test; the orange steel beams are in place for a reason.

The bands first live show outside of Leeds has been more than a success. Keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for this lot.

Tin Ribs - 20:35

The stage is handed over to Tin Ribs. They set themselves up.

Frontman, Jason, starts off in something of a downward dog position just in front of the drums. Tin Ribs open with "Estate".

"Estate" is home to what may just be the most well-written, witty lyrics of the night:
'I am the washing powder you put up your nose.
I am the patches that you sew into your clothes.
I'll put the 'sub' in the sublime.
I'll put the 'div' in the divine.
I am the sawdust you inject into your veins.
I am the aching in your joints before it rains.
I am the poverty porn fluffer.
I am the waxwork of the gutter.'

Tin Ribs exude a Hardcore Punk feel; think Black Flag for a point of reference.

All four members have a distinct look - bassist Dan is of 80's glam metal, guitarist Rob needs six cups of coffee to start the day, drummer Luke conveys a "normal" dude, and frontman Jason depicts a gym teacher.

Guitarist, Rob, in his hooded pyjama-like jacket, makes his way into the crowd and skips around. He makes the most of modern technology and finds himself free of the constraints of guitar cables/cords. Jason works the Pop Recs stage. His New Balances are put to good use.

A swig of Buckfast "it gets you fucked fast" is taken before heading into the crowd; the frontman beats on his chest gorilla-style.

"It’s too fucking high up there, man. I suffer from vertigo."

Jason continues the majority of the performance from in front of the stage. He now makes use of the Pop Recs foot space. He chills on the stage for a bit; one arm on stage, legs crossed - uncaring.

"Ohh yeahhhhh. Now we're cooking up guys."

Tin Ribs’ frontman having a breather.

The microphone is thrown back on stage. Jason makes his way back on stage and, like a sailor pulling his boat to shore, proceeds to pull the remaining mic cord towards himself while performing "Eggs Benny".

Back into the crowd we go. The frontman is now a member of the crowd with a can of Angelo Poretti enjoying the show. He's full of antics - mischievous. He has an unflinching seriousness to him.

"GOOD NIGHT." the crowd chuckles "nah we got a few songs left."

The frontman sits in the corner below the stage and sings from there. Another quick swig of Bucky is had. Bassist Dan's shirt is sort of fluorescent under the lights - it has that lazer tag kind of look. Drummer Luke bites his lower lip as he plays; unconscious things occur when concentration levels rise.

"Will we do a slow one?" Tin Ribs proceed to play the fastest song of the night. Jason finds himself lying flat on the floor of Pop Recs. He chats to the crowd as he rests. Tin Ribs Aerobics is paused to catch a breath or two; the gym teacher aesthetic comes full circle.

“We’ve got four shirts left!”

"Thank you to House Proud for having us. This is fucking insane. Shoutout to cateyes. We've got four shirts left. One small…" a person in the crowd shouts and wants it. "£10 cash. No fucking time wasters. We've got one song left."

Tin Ribs end on "Back to the Crawlspace".

Frontman Jason sets the mic stand for the next band - House Proud - to close the performance. His final antic is one of good, selfless deed.

As "Back to the Crawlspace" comes to a close, guitarist Dan soaks it up and gets on his knees while playing, frontman Jason swigs Buckfast and blows kisses, Luke's drums are battered and bassist Dan stands with one leg on the amp at the front of the stage.

Tin Ribs receive a well-earned applause.

Tin Ribs and House Proud share a few minutes on stage - they swap and change snares etc. Drummer Luke dons a leopard print jacket as they pack their gig-bits away.

House Proud - 21:30

A “House Proud” banner which features the artwork of the band’s debut single "Rescue Dog" is placed upon one of the amps. The Pop Recs stage is now theirs.

From where I am, I can see the full moon through the pyramid-like-windowed-roof of Pop Recs.

Mike Oldfield's "In Dulce Jubilo" plays as the band make their way on stage - a giddy atmosphere is set.

The band open on a new track; it's a bittersweet one. A bit of feedback is present; a sharp something is peeping through - the sound has been identified and sorted by songs end. Distortion fills the space between songs - the crowd's applause sits behind the distortion. A more grunge-y/punk-y feel is dipped into for the next track.

Ben bumps his mic stand mid-song and lets out a "Woo-Hoooooo". Keys swing from James' belt as he plays; house keys for the House Proud boys.

The three of Rory, Ben and James get in on vocal duties as Cole mouths the same refrain of "They Never, They never..." behind them.

The ever-present gig-goer from all past House Proud gig reviews - a member of local act The Black Rain - is front and centre. You love to see it.

"What do we think of Rorys t-shirt?" Rory wears a 'Vaults' t-shirt - red with bold, gold letters. Hulkamania-esque, brother.

"We've a special guest on stage tonight. Give it up for the rescue dog, Alfie." The crowd cheers. "He's not here. He's a little shit."

House Proud perform one of their earlier tracks "Dead Eagle". The soles of my shoes are vibrating - pant legs are wobbling. Cole has a quick stretch in the cool down of Dead Eagle before the closing of 'every time I try to go outside....'.

"Me throats gone dry. I've had heart burn today; I've chucked a few Gaviscon tablets." A gig-goer feels Ben's pain and shouts "me too!".

"This is a new one for those that haven’t heard us before." It features a nasty, croak-like guitar tone - sharp and dirty. It features the lyrics of:
'Get up to get down,
don't wanna talk about it.'

"This is another new one. Well, I think it's all new ones, anyway." The band have been busy behind the scenes.

The very reminiscent-in-tone "Cribs"-y track is pulled out the bag - 'got to let it goooooo'.

"ONE. TWO. THREE."

Tin Ribs frontman Jason keeps the merch desk attended to. Dom "Chinni" Copeland, a member of Serial Bowl labelmates Dead Wet Things, is in the crowd.

Rory chills with Cole for a short while - they exchange a glance. They're enjoying themselves up there. Rory lets out a little "thank youuuuu" at songs end.

"POP RECS!"

Coles customary shirt removal occurs before "A Perfect Body". Cole sings along to the song while beating the living sheeeite out of his kit.

With the special guest "Rescue Dog" banner on stage, it was only a matter of time before the band’s debut single "Rescue Dog" was brought to life.

Ben points at the Rescue Dog banner as he sings 'he's better off dead, better off dead.'

We're sonically taken straight into the next track. Soul-cleansing effects cut through - like a VCR tape in ultra speed; forwards or backwards, I'm not so sure - as the track is brought to a close.

"We've got two options - we play one more or we call it a night." The crowd chooses one more song.

House Proud close out their headline set on "Barber", the intro to their 'Live' EP.

"We've got a message from Michael Bublé: Happy Christmas!" The warm voice of Michael Bublé radiates a warmth through Pop Recs. Giddy to begin and giddy to end, House Proud set a welcoming, warm tone on either side of their powerful, driving performance.

The crowd were welcomed over to the recently re-opened Bridge Hotel Vaults for a drink, or two, or none depending on what time you got there.

A night of noisy post-punk goodness was promised; a night of noisy post-punk goodness was delivered.

Sunderland is a music city.