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Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn of Sleaford Mods take the stage in matching cargo shorts, as the bass of UK Grim, the title track from their newest album, thumps in the background. The duo from Nottingham wastes no time as Fearn’s drum machine kicks in and Williamson’s vocals pierce through like a predator. They launch into a scathing commentary on the state of the nation, with Williamson declaring, “In England, your screams go unheard.”
The post-punk duo’s fourth album, UK Grim, has achieved a spot in the UK Top 10. Fearn’s simplistic electronic beats drive Williamson’s lyrics, which touch on themes of inequality, class differences, and hopelessness. With a metal sheet backdrop resembling crash barriers on a highway, the duo performs a powerful setlist spanning ten years of passionate frustration, eventually turning their criticism inward.
The latest track, Smash Each Other Up, embodies the quintessential style of Sleaford Mods – raw and unapologetic in its commentary on the violence caused by austerity. The lyrics take a dig at the empty promises of political leaders, with a sly reference to “levelling up” like a stereotypical Tory. The intense bass shakes the very foundation of the building. Another song, DIwhy, calls out supposed punk bands for “selling out” and touches on the struggle of creating outsider music while gaining mainstream success. Lead vocalist Williamson sarcastically shouts, “You’re just another loud, unoriginal band!” while fellow member Fearn energetically dances to the beats triggered by his laptop. The pace is relentless, but the heavily amplified sound often makes Williamson’s anger difficult to decipher.
Conversation is limited, but twice Williamson asserts a sort of purpose statement: “We are Sleaford Mods and everyone despises us.” Even for two self-proclaimed antagonists, this statement holds more truth than usual. In early November, Williamson halted a performance after a fan in Madrid continuously disrupted and threw a Palestinian keffiyeh on stage. Later, he tweeted: “Don’t ask me to take sides on something I have no real knowledge about during a concert. I am a singer. My job is music. The only thing I truly understand about war is that I am exhausted and fed up with premature deaths, just like everyone else. I am sickened by the murder of anyone, regardless of their beliefs.” This sparked intense debates on social media, even after Williamson released a longer statement addressing the issue. Some fans expressed disappointment in a band known for being outspoken. It is clear that the dissent has affected them, and although Williamson tries to appear confident, it is unclear if “everyone hates us” is a frustrated complaint or a point of pride for the band.
Source: theguardian.com
