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By: Rich Beckmannflay

Artist: Mclusky

Date: Saturday 18th January 2020

Venue: The Tuning Fork

Welsh Hardcore band Mclusky are a three piece group who have fallen off the radar somewhat in recent years. That didn’t have any effect on excited Kiwi fans, who were only too happy to sing along to their hits at Tuning Fork tonight. Coincidentally, it was their first foray playing to Kiwi audiences.

Featuring Welsh musicians from Future of the Left, members Andrew “Falco” Falkous and Jack Egglestone, with the addition of Damien Sayell from the St Pierre Snake Invasion, the Cardiff outfit were ruthless in the execution of performing their hit songs.

Mclusky kicked in hard with Fuck This Band, its mesmerising bass riffs, combined clever beats and the wall of guitar seemed so much bigger than the sum of their three parts. Their live sound made me think of a melodic or modern reboot of The Clash, with a touch of Hippy Trance-esque sound structures.

McCluskey aka McLusky, were around between 1999 and 2005, during which time they made a few friends and three albums. Slow-forward fourteen years and, thanks to the uncanny pull of nostalgia and gravity, they have made more friends but no more albums. Which is a shame, as their post-hard-core sound and gritty lyrics are still as relevant now as they were then. Just listen to The Difference Between Me and You Is That I’m Not On Fire.

Local band Dick Move opened the night with their gang vocal and gang guitars and represented their song Dick Move in style. The wild mix of young and old audience members were certainly moving, I assumed they were keeping it their ‘pants’ although the lights were indeed low.

Story goes, the band were persuaded originally to reform to help save a local music venue and for other vaguely unrelated reasons. McCluskey is their stylised name now, together with Damien Sayell of The St Pierre Snake Invasion playing bass and singing, it’s a move that has seen the band sky rocket into popularity in recent times.

Last night was a relatively staid affair until the band warmed up. Playing songs from their vast catalogue, from their eponymous Huwuno to their last album She Will Only Bring You Happiness, the mood was set for a raucous night. The band fed off the crowd’s energy, punching out crowd faves, Alan Is A Cowboy Killer & the cool-as To Hell With Good Intentions.

Mclusky’s Wales, like New Zealand, although a small country, punch above their weight when it comes to producing great international acts. Tonight was just a drop in the ocean, musically speaking of course.