Kagoule, Polterghost & Ancient Times Play Neu ‘Hello 2014’ Show

The first of four ‘Hello 2014’ nights at London’s Old Blue Last sees Brighton’s Ancient Times spilling on stage sporting staples from their home city. It’s not quite beach attire, but frontman George Smale wears a t-shirt devoted to a local burger joint. Morrissey - the guy his fluttering vocals are most compared to - might have something to say about that, but it’s a nice contrast to the band’s stately elegance. What’s riotous and raw on the surface is being played by some clever sods, as it turns out. Beginning with ‘Homeschool’, they aptly educate the crowd in proving there’s more to them than lofty Smiths comparisons. Riffs sting, structures swerve, in a set that encounters bands of the past without looking back too much or crying out for a reunion tour. ‘Time will destroy me,’ George barks at one point, but for the moment time’s definitely on his side.

Polterghost are a different prospect in some respects. They most certainly do have a past to look back on. Consisting of two members from the now disbanded Fanzine, they bear little comparison to former outfits but experience has, in part, informed their grizzly approach to songwriting. Every split second of their set is razor sharp, sounding rehearsed to a T, which is kind of remarkable given that backstage they’re telling DIY about only meeting up recently for their first practice in 2 months.

Giving nods to shameless eras of rock - hair rock, even - they insist on showmanship and downright disgusting riffs. If they were down to their knees in greasy locks it’d make a ridiculous amount of sense, but as they stand, (relatively) clean cut, Polterghost are even more intriguing than the glammed up rock gods they’re channelling. This is no understatement: Even if a crowd knew nothing about them, they could stumble onto a Reading festival main stage drunk out of their minds and still do a stellar job. Their straddling of pop-punk and shouty Foos slash grimy Gross Magic-style garage rock is a tough contender.

Nottingham’s Kagoule finish the night off as headliners. Drawing in everything that’s already been showcased - with countless previous eras in the spotlight - they emerge fresh-faced with something special up their sleeves. What they sport is tougher to a attach to a certain era, which is probably a good thing. Thrashing and heady to an extent that outweighs its minimal parts, their set is a distinct moment. What begins as harsh and almost frightening on the surface soon morphs into a source of rejoice, darkness becoming an all-encompassing force. It commands respect, swerving from the innocent but devilish to the standout, fearsome ‘Adjust The Way’. Nothing stands still - not least the band themselves - in a curious fusion of otherwise unconventional elements. Together, it could barely belong to any band but Kagoule. They wave ‘Hello’ to 2014 with a bloodied grin. What a start.

Hello 2014 continues on 14th January with a free show headlined by Honeyblood.