Primaveras/Jam Tub/ Blue Hummingbirds @ The Bunker (Sunderland)
17/2/24
Squeeze's 'Cool for Cats' and Bob Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues', among a handful of other tracks, play before the Blue Hummingbirds open up.
Two semi-secretly positioned yellow 'Primaveras' smiley stickers can be spotted to those tuned in.
Blue Hummingbirds - 19:30
Blue Hummimgbirds are a four-piece.
Their frontman, Anthony, bolstered with a bright red Les Paul Epiphone and Green Adidas Gazelles, loves a guitar solo. Red and green dont usually go together, but he pulls it off.
The Blue Hum's rhythm guitarist is giving it socks. He's out of breath after the first tune. He bobs side to side as he plays. "I would put my hat on, but I forgot it" he says after introducing 'Excuses'.
David Miller, the drummer, is as laid back as one can be. Bassist, Jack, is rather reserved; modest; respectable. Four different stage presences converge to form the Blue Hummingbirds.
“This is off of our EP from 2019. This is called 'Rain.” A reverb-laden track.
After introducing all the members of the band, the Blue Hum's close on a cover of 'Valerie'. Crowd participation is encouraged. Mr. rhythm guitar can't help but hop up and down. He finishes on something akin to a crip walk. He grooves as he packs up his gear post-gig.
A communal effort is put in to heave equipment.
Bands criss-cross as gear is moved to make way for the next act - Jam Tub.
Jam Tub - 20:15
Jam Tub are a three-piece - guitar, bass guitar, and drums.
Setting up, Jam Tub's drummer, Fergus, is adorned with a Primaveras smiley on his forehead. Fred's pedal board is quite literally an upside-down skateboard. Fred, the bassist, wears a 'Dickies Fort Worth' shirt; safety pins in each ear; a checkered belt. 'Poser' is written in tape across his weapon of choice.
Lead guitar, Michael, has a quick acoustic jingle-jangle as the sound guy brings the electric sound to life. He's the only one wearing a hoodie.
Jam Tub play LOUD; a wiii-wooo sounding pedal gadget sends their opening song into outer space. Those in attendance find their ear-drums pushed to tickle-point - tinnitus isn't too far from here.
Jam Tub's sound swings from uncaring to caring all too much. Their second song of the night is 'There Has to Be a fight'. The song pushes and pulls its way forwards.
Fergus' snare is sharp. He focuses on his ride as he plays; he batters his kit. Blonde curtains cover his face.
Michael has a lackadaisical demeanour - a half here, half their way about him. A serious, searching, look is on his face at all times. Red vans are on his feet.
The Dickies Fort Worth shirt comes off after 'Abiotic' - bare skin is now being worn. As well as Michael's hoodie - a 'Van Halen' shirt is revealed.
"This is one of our singles. It came out about a month ago? I can't remember. Its called 'Daisy Chain.'"
Fred climbs onto, and jumps off of, his amp to enter into the last track.
“We've been Jam Tub. We'll see ya later.”
Primaveras - 21:00
Frontman, Tobey Hall, has red-and-orange Adidas shoes. Vibrant footwear is the name of the game tonight.
Lead guitar, Fynn Bowman, has a shiny sea-blue guitar and wears a 'Velvet Underground' shirt; as well as a denim jacket with badges - a 'Jam Tub' badge is amongst them; a nice show of inter-band support.
Like vibrant footwear, band shirts are also on show; Metallica's 'And Justice For All' shirt is spotted in the crowd.
Three of four Primaveras members are on stage. 'James, James, James' chants are thrown out as the drummer, James Bacon, makes his way on stage; James himself joins in. "We have our drummer now, we'll start with 'Crazy Paving'."
James chews the air as he plays. He plays very low down; primal - the kit is setup for a bad back later on down the line. He loves a twirl of his sticks.
Tobey's guitar string breaks. A fresh pack of strings is pulled from underneath the stage mid-song. The string is wound tight and tuned. A party trick that every guitarist has to pull out when the guitar Gods call.
"That was an elongated version of that song. I've never had to dance and tune a guitar before."
Tobey Hall is eerily reminiscent of Ian Curtis.
Dave the Rave turns up to the gig. The young lads in The Bunker are in awe. "Hello, Dave." Tobey acknowledges a local legends presence.
Another string breaks. "My top E's gone. My bottom E's gone." String packets are scattered at the frontman’s feet.
Inside jokes are shared among the band and friends in the crowd. "Will somebody sort him out? Is security here?" is jokingly said. James, the drummer, pulls out, and shoots, a water gun.
They end on an MGMT cover - 'Time to Pretend'. Bassist, Josh Hancox, adds a lovely wooshing string slide to the sound.
Another string breaks for the frontman. His guitar is cursed, it seems.
"Cheers for the support. I'm gonna buy twenty packs of strings when I get home."
A night of three fairly varied acts with clear talent on show. Saturday nights on the Stockton Road are the place to be.
'Intimate' is a word that falls short of describing it; The Bunker, Sunderland's best kept secret.
Find out about upcoming gigs at The Bunker through the link below:
