SLEAFORD MODS WHIP WARSAW INTO A FRENZY

We’ll forgive you (this time) if you don’t really know about the Nottingham, England band known as Sleaford Mods. Nottingham – best known for its Robin Hood folklore – is a gritty city a few hours drive north of London. Sleaford Mods’ sound is a direct result of the scene there; and not unlike Robin Hood, vocalist Jason Williamson takes what he sees, wraps it up with pointed lyrics, and then gives it back to the people hundredfold in a gravelly East-Midlands accent. If it were spoken word, we’d be a little scared at the intensity, but Andrew Fearn pulls it all together with grungy, minimalistic-beats that can get a room-full of people dancing in a second.

Touring on their newest album, English Tapas, that was released on 3-3-17 via Rough Trade Records, the band rolled into NYC for only the second time ever at a sold-out Warsaw. Opening the gig was Negative Scanner from Chicago that warmed up the early arrivals with some melodic post-punk tunes.

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Then Sleaford Mods came out with an intense set that had the capacity-crowd singing along to every word. Playing killer new tunes like “B.H.S.” and “TCR,” had the same effect as old hits like “Jollyfucker.” It didn’t matter it was just two guys and a lap-top on a darkened stage, if anything, it let us sink into the abyss with an impressive night of music we wont soon forget.