House Proud / Bugman @ The Museum Vaults (Sunderland)

11/8/24

Back from their travels to a surprisingly sunny Manchester where they headlined Retro, House Proud eyed up Sunderland's Museum Vaults - yet another headline gig. 

North Shields' Bugman would be the support act. Call it an album release day gig of some sort, Bugman's upcoming album 'The Proto Push' would be released on August 16th. 

The Museum Vaults are exactly what the name implies - Sunderland through the years as well as a few vintage pieces can be found inside. As far as pubs go, the Vaults is quite quaint. A clock above the bar reads "booze time" at every hour. You can buy pickled eggs for 80 pence. A punctured tambourine, a teapot, a monkey(toy/stuffed/not real) and a few other trinkets also hang above the bar. A photo of Jack Nicholson(Randle McMurphy) and Will Sampson(Chief Bromden) in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest sits under the TV which has the Olympics (USA vs France women's basketball) on.  

A 'Bad Brains' shirt is worn by the guy at the door. Serial Bowl Records CDs and records, as well as House Proud's 'Live' EP, are available for purchase. 

Bugman's Bandcamp reads "Indie Punkist on a Post-Pop High." The bass drum reads 'Serial Bowl Records: D.I.Y or Die'. The gig room is small - the speakers are about 12 feet, if that, from the back wall. A nice breeze blows through the Vaults. 

Five minutes earlier than expected, Bugman get things underway. 

Bugman - 15:25

Two-piece with enough noise for five, Bugman, comprising of Steve Allen on drums and donning a Superman hat and Ryan Siddall on guitar and vocals wearing a bright orange hat atop bleach blonde hair, open a sonic vortex inside the Museum Vaults. A range of guitar effects roll out as the duo build up to their first track, 'Birthday'. A bird-like chirp - very Drive Like Jehu - wails on. 

A can of Red Stripe sits on the 'Orange' amp behind the frontman. Ryan's red shirt matches the microphone cable which snakes down the mic stand. A black and yellow 'blur' - Bugman's a reference to blur track 'Bugman'? - sticker sits at the bottom of his guitar. Under the guitar strings sits a 'Free Palestine' sticker. An enthusiastic gig-goer jives at the front of the crowd. He gets on his knees as if to worship Bugman. 

A wall of distortion blankets the Vaults. Bugman don't take themselves too seriously, but the music speaks for itself, they mean business. 

Ryan's guitar acts as bass at times - there may also be another track playing somewhere which I can't quite figure out. 

"This next song's called.... what's it called? It's shite."

Ryan's legs involuntarily kick-out as he plays.

'Yer Brain': the song is brought down close to a whisper. Gentle hi-hats and tense looks are dished out by drummer, Steve.  

A sip of Red Stripe is taken. "CHEERS."

Steve gets in on 'oh oh oh ohhhh' chants. 

Like a cybernet warning from the past, or future, a mad auto-tune like effect backs up the vocals - my ears could have been playing tricks on me here(it was loud). 

There's no time for talk. A quick "thank you" and into the next track. 

There are some strange tones and effects being pulled out the pedal bag. 'Fever Dream' closes out the set.

"We've got some fucking shit CDs to stuff in yer shit fucking shit."  

What a way to end. 

Bugman’s gig-rig and setlist.

Notes and knocks ring out as House Proud set themselves up. 

Cole sports a Minutemen 'Paranoid Time' t-shirt. Those who know, know. 

Like Bugman, House Proud pick up their gig-bits 5 minutes early. 

House Proud - 16:25

The three of Rory, Ben and James are close. Space is precious. The trio resemble ZZ Top - plus an additional member on guitar, minus the beards. Cole, as did Steve Allen, sits in a confined corner behind said trio.  

The room fills.

House Proud begin on 'Rescue Dog' which bleeds into 'Choices'.

"I've got a script here. So imma read it." Ben proceeds to read out a bit of the setlist. 

"This one's 'Mothers Flowers'" from their debut EP. 

Rory and James meet on the agonising 'In my head' refrain to superb effect as the track comes to a close. 

Ben and the boys chat as Rory nonchalantly plays a gorgeous bassline. "If you wanna get a pint or a fag, now's the time - this is a slow one." The bassline carries us and continues into the track, one of the newer ones, 'Wait For Me'. 

The newer songs are sounding excellent. 

A Joy Division 'Unknown Pleasures' shirt is spotted in the crowd. 

"What's next on the script? Another song!"

House Proud dip into another of their newer songs 'Talk'. 

"I see loads of familiar faces. That means we're not shit."

They get the quirks of their influences just right. The lads are indebted to Post-Punk, with the more Gothic side of the music spectrum never too far. House Proud make the most of their knack for vocal interplay - Back-and-forths often guide the way. 

More script - "Ben chatter. Working class. Who wrote that?"

*enjoying the performance too much to break away and take notes* - all the while taking a note!

"Cheers to Bugman. Where've you come from Bugman?" Ryan shouts "North Fucking Shields."

We get a short story from James about a dream of playing at the Vaults and it taking a weird turn. Well, they're here now, and it's going great, more than, even.

"I'd tell you to come forward, but you're already forward." The room is packed - a slither of space exists to allow passage to the toilets. "This is a new old one." The lads perform 'Le Train'. 

The band understand momentum. They're well-paced structure wise and balance on a vicious-yet-sweet sound. Shifts in energy are a common occurrence. 

Ben tunes his guitar "I always have a problem going to drop D."

The band have 30 of their CD's to sell, or give away. Cole's Paranoid Time t-shirt comes off for the last song - 'Dead Eagle'. 

"That's my dog on the poster." ‘Awwww’ rings out as we learn that it's a rescue dog - the inspiration for the opening track?

Rory places his bass down as Dead Eagle closes out. Job done. 

"ONE MORE" a gig-goer roars. "One more?" "ONE MORE" in unison. 

"Have we got one more?" The lads query each other. 

Rory picks up his bass once again. 

They end on their Live EP opener, 'Barber'.

The jiver from earlier on meets a friend, who's passing to the toilets, and they have a jig together. 

"That was actually the last song. Enjoy the rest of your day." 

The coveted script.

It's 17:10 on a Sunday evening. Petition to have more afternoon gigs? Cheers, please, thanks. 

The Museum Vaults is emptied towards the back garden area for a picture. 

House Proud go from strength to strength. The new tracks, as well as the 'new old' tracks including their Live EP material, are sounding more defined as the performances go on. 

There's a tangible eager air surrounding House Proud. As the last of the setlist/script would suggest, big things are coming. 

You can catch both House Proud and Bugman at Trade Winds in North Shields over the weekend of September 13th and 14th. You can get your tickets for Trade Winds below:

https://www.terns.co.uk/event-details/13792613/trade-winds/

House Proud will also be in Sunderland on the same weekend. Their return to The Ship Isis is on September 13th. Support comes in the form of The Black Rain.