Q Now: Howler, XOYO - review

Like The Vaccines before them, there's nothing startlingly original about the Minneapolis band's revisionist garage-rock. There are times on their recent debut, America Give Up, when you could easily be listening to The Strokes.

But last night's incendiary show suggested that, despite all that, the hype is largely justified.
Jordan Gatesmith, the group's 19-year-old frontman, was the star, rasping his way through Wailing (Making Out) with a voice that suggested he'd been gargling battery acid backstage. Behind him, his four bandmates provided impressively muscular backing on America, which bottled the rebellious spirit of The Undertones' Teenage Kicks.

Like The Strokes, there's a brattishness here, which manifested itself in irritating between-song banter. But there's also charisma to burn and a broader musical palette than they've been given credit for: Too Much Blood was a glacial ballad, while Back of Your Neck veered left into rockabilly territory.

These industry-heavy gigs aren't renowned for their rowdiness. But that didn't stop a fan storming the stage to sing the chorus to Told You Once - and there'll be more pandemonium in the months to come.

Guitar music remains unsaved. But Howler are well worth shouting about.

Q Now: The Sessions, Howler
XOYO
32-37 Cowper St
Islington
EC2A 4AW