The Mae Shi, We Are Knives (Live)

The Limelight, Belfast

Part of the way through We Are Knives’ characteristically blinding set, you catch a hint of disappointment in Hornby’s eye. It’s not that he cares that they are playing to a more-or-less empty Limelight. No, We Are Knives would quite happily play to no-one, such is their total immersion in their music. But they saw the soundcheck, and they know there’s something special coming up from The Mae Shi, and there’s a kind of collective guilt in the room that so few of us are going to see it.

But, first, a word on We Are Knives. Their musicianship and passion have made people take notice since their first show, but recently they’ve been playing a couple of truly thrilling new songs (‘9’ and ‘10’) which stun even those of us who’ve seen them 20 times. When bassist Steve switches to guitar and plays bass pedals at the same time, there’s a collective jaw-drop.

The Mae Shi start their set a cappella, wandering about through the crowd (sorry, “crowd”). In and of itself it’s nothing we haven’t seen before – wireless guitars, mini drum kits on the floor – and it splits opinion. Folk say it’s all stage-managed gimmickry. “Just play a normal show, like a normal rock band,” they wail. And it’s true that given the underwhelming nature of a quarter-full room, it feels slightly unnatural to see an act so used to thriving on the interaction with their audience. For me, though, they’re like a mini Polyphonic Spree, bringing joy and wonderment and energy and all those things that, in small doses, make live music brilliant. It’s pretty clear that they haven’t exactly choreographed the show when a stack of synthesizers crash to the floor. Musically, it’s sharp, spiky punk – exactly what you expect of a Kill Rock Stars band – with elements of Deerhoof in the sheer unpredictability of it all, but with a far greater sense of fun.

Fun, by all accounts, was had in abundance when The Mae Shi turned up at Lavery’s later that night to play an impromptu second show. It makes a strange sort of sense that The Mae Shi play best when you least expect them. Niall Harden

**Read an interview with The Mae Shi here**

Issue #52 - Very Bro-some

Featuring Panama Kings, ASIWYFA, an investigation into DIY touring, details of what over 25 of the finest NI bands are up to in 2009 and much more.