Giant Drag - Live In Manchester
[Manchester Night & Day Café]

After the recent popularity of guitar bands with hefty line-ups and extravagant front men, less proves to be more tonight as Giant Drag pull off a hard-hitting performance. Vocalist Annie Hardy is a monumental front woman who's deceptively laid back demeanour is shattered as she dishes out fierce and quick witted comebacks to unlucky hecklers.

Tonight's opener, 'Blunt Picket Fence' warms things up as the tight surroundings amplify its tranquil rhythm. Second up, the controversial but attention grabbing 'You Fuck Like My Father' exposes the bands scrawling, grungy roots with Hardy's lethargic but scraping vocals.

The memorable 'Pretty Little Neighbour' radiates insecurity and vulnerability against a backdrop of choppy distortion and a strong drum rhythm. Latest single This Isn't It translates well amidst the close, smoky atmosphere of the Night & Day as it's dulled, sombre notes hang in the air.

The duo focus largely on material from debut album 'Hearts and Unicorns' but find time to slip in some B-sides and promising new track 'White Babies'. Micah Calabrese's ability to play drums and synthesiser simultaneously never falters, and provides a successful and interesting alternative to the average band line-up.

Although Hardy blames noticeable crowd noise on the band being a two-piece, the additional instruments present on their album are not significantly missed and the limiting of musicians only adds to the impact of the band's sound and presence.

Finishing up, the duo shun an encore, as Hardy declares "this is usually the part we go offstage and pretend not to come back". This epitomises the directness lying behind Giant Drag and their lyrical outlook. Staying firmly put, they lunge into penultimate track, Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game'. This interpretation strips it of its early nineties associations and silences the room with its haunting riff as Hardy's yearning vocals give the track an angsty, teenage edge.

Crowd pleaser Kevin Is Gay ends the evening on a dynamic and firm note. The continuation of live performances of this calibre will only serve to secure Giant Drag the coverage and success they deserve.