Bass Drum of Death

Live review Bass Drum of Death - sweaty garage mayhem Visits from John Barrett's speed-riffing garage rock outfit 'Bass Drum of Death' are getting almost as regular as those of the craggy grandfather of punk, Iggy Pop, and a welcome reminder that the spirit of 'Raw Power' lives on. Oxford, Mississippi might be a long way from the Detroit, Michigan of the late 60s/early 70s, but as a heaving mob of sweaty fans in the back room of the Shacklewell Arms on Thursday night can testify - the vibe lives on through Bass Drum of Death. Barrett, plus drummer (and seemingly permanent band member) Len Clark and an unnamed guitar-for-hire tore through double-time renditions of some of the hottest tracks from the first two albums - Nerve Jamming, GB City, Get Found, Velvet Itch, I Wanna Be Forgotten, Bad Reputation et al - as well as showcasing selection of songs from their latest release 'Rip This'. As always, there's the feeling that BDOD should be playing to bigger crowds in larger venues but there's something about their 'Room above a pub' DIY tour aesthetic that makes every gig seem like the right place at the right time. The Shacklewell gig was no exception. The typically aloof Barrett seemed wholly at home in his surroundings and, bar a couple of technical hitches, the gig flew through the chilly November night like a supersonic jet, before crash-landing into the ever-wilder, room-wide moshpit with a screech of feedback. With a brief encore comprising a spiky cover of 'Spirit in the Sky' it was over - and all too soon. But you know they'll be back...