Punk rock (and its various offshoots) is best when used by the marginalised, whether it be Stiff Little Fingers or Bad Brains, as it gives voice to the previously dispossessed and silenced. Recently it\u2019s been grasped by Japanese women (Yellow Machinegun, Otoboke Beaver) to circumnavigate the trappings of a patriarchal society. For over three decades vocalist Yako, one half of Melt-Banana, has been using music as a weapon and in the process has pioneered the whole noise rock revolution.<\/p>\n
First up is support act Giant Head, an electronic\/rap musician from Nottingham. Armed only with an Intellijel music sequencer he\u2019s like a mad scientist mixing crazy beats over which he raps lyrics that focus on the minutiae of modern life. An understated performance places the emphasis on his wordplay wizardry and his whole aesthetic reminds me of The Fall’s Mark E. Smith; he\u2019s slightly bemused and mystified yet his words contain sharp, cutting-edge observations that cut to the bone. Set to a retro sci-fi beat latest single Fails<\/em> goes down particularly well and I\u2019m sure tonight\u2019s nifty half-hour set has won Giant Head many new admirers.<\/p>\n