LaFaro, live in Hanover, 2/4

[slave_guard]

This weekend I got to see LaFaro from Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the 2nd time after having fallen in love with them for their Helmet support in winter '10. If you don't know LaFaro then you should a) change this and b) imagine a mixture of Helmet, The Jesus Lizard, Therapy?, Queens of the Stone Age, Shellac and Future of the Left/Mclusky.

The show started very late, and I mean very late so that I barely got the last train home otherwise I would have to wait like 10 hours for the next one which wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't -20°C outside. The band was waiting around at the merch table so I talked to drummer Alan Lynn, guitarist Dave Magee and new bassist Oisin O'Doherty (who is the brother of Cahir O'Doherty of Fighting With Wire that will support Helmet this spring) who seemed rather bored and therefore thankful for some conversation considering that it was still early and their stage time far away. Had my stuff signed and got to know that they want to return to the studio this summer and record either another album (the third in 2 years) or an EP. They also said they wanted the Meantime 20th Anniversary support slot but ended up not getting it.

Regarding the gig itself, there were like 70-100 people in attendance (I'm bad at estimating), I'd still say it is decent for a band that is probably only known in continental Europe for their support slots with Helmet and And So I Watch You From Afar.
Frontman and singer Johnny Black was sitting on a chair the whole evening with one foot in cast because he broke his ankle in four places shortly before the tour but that didn't stop him from hammering out the Texas-sized riffs. The sound improved within the course of the gig because the vocals were literally inaudible given the onslaught of hyperactive drumming and noisy guitars. Lots of banter during the songs that either focussed around penisses and beer or was incomprehensible due to heavy Irish accent.

Leningrad
Big Kevin
Boke
The Ballad of Burnt Dave
Boom Chasers
Mr Heskey
Full Tilt
Tupenny Nudger
Meat Wagon
Wingers & Chips
Cold Dog Soup
Settle Petal
Chopper Is A Fuckin' Tout
Easy Meat

Their latest album Easy Meat (released October '11) and the self-titled debut (released summer '10) are streaming below:
http://soundcloud.com/smalltown-amer...asy-meat-album
and
http://soundcloud.com/smalltown-amer...faro-lafaro-1/

Go.