Goat return to Manchester and bring their acid drenched psychedelic party with them. Fellow Swedes, MaidaVale, are in support.

MAIDAVALE

Providing support for Goat is Swedish psych band, MaidaVale. With a heavy amount of ‘fog’ dousing the stage, the quartet set about warming up the crowd with their brand of psych.

Whilst shrouded in the mist, the band are clear and present as their long-ish tracks cut through with motorik rhythms. Matilda Roth is impressive on vocals as she spins around stage; sometimes with the guitar, sometimes adding extras through her electronic set up.

To compliment Roth, there is Sofia Ström who wows on guitar. Her use of effects builds the sound that MaidaVale clearly have a good grasp of. Linn Johannesson on bass, utilises her instrument superbly in helping to create the driving rhythm delivered by Johanna Hansson. As their short set ends, the band gets an excellent reception. MaidaVale are the perfect foil for Goat.

MaidaVale’s latest album, Sun Dog, is available now. You can buy it here.

GOATBRAIN

And so, to Goat. The largely anonymous masked Swedish band are absolute masters in plying their trade. On their records, they are deadly, but when the band take the stage they come alive.

Again, there is a heavy mist around the venue. Pre show tunes include William Onyeabor, The Meters and Buddy Miles. All set the tone before the band take the stage to great ovation. Opening with One More Death from their latest self titled album (review here), the band waste no time in finding their groove. When the driving guitar riff comes in in the second half of the second, it is clear that Manchester is in for a special night.

Goatbrain follows; a single that has had ample air time in the UK. Naturally, it is a familiar piece that the crowd lap up. Where brass is used on the studio record, the band introduces a twin guitar melody live.

GOATFUZZ

Heading back to Requiem (2016), the septuplet hit the fuzz on a terrific version of Goatfuzz. Familiarity continues with Under No Nation from 2022’s Oh Death album (review here). On that tour, we caught the band at Manchester Club Academy (review here); an infinitely smaller venue than tonight’s big one at the main academy venue. Front to back, and side to side, it is full. Every person moves in their space whether be head nodding, toe tapping or letting it all hang out with wild psychedelic movement. Such is the infectious nature of Goat, the music moves you.

World Music (2012) was the record that put Goat on the map. Let It Bleed showcases the harmonised vocals with a slower tempo in the music. Goat have a mesmeric presence on stage. Each member of the band show their own identity whilst being masked. Some lurk in the background and some interact more with the crowd through gesture.

Throughout the set, Goat have a deadly live mix. Percussion plays a huge part in proceedings. The drums are obviously the heaviest aspect, but both singers utilise a wide range of percussion and the Djembe style drummer increases the beat. Interlinked with this is the wonderfully rich bass sound.

GOATLORDS

Dollar Bill works in tandem with Soon You Die majestically. The guitar solos blaze and again, the bass is sublime. Talk To God, from Commune (2014), is an intense experience. With tribal percussion and more searing guitars, Goat end up at the climax of their main set with a crowd baying for more.

Opting for two encores, Goat open up their first encore with Queen Of The Underground. It is here that Goat show their chops at stoner rock. A slow tempo, rolling bass, and a riff that sounds like it was carved by Tony Iommi ensue. Psychedelic and mind bending, Goat can really get heavy. With blistering guitar solos, the song is a real highlight of the night. They follow with Let It Burn before exiting the stage.

A quick return surprises some people as they set for the doors. There is an immediate about face as people get enraptured just once more with Run To You Mama. The bassline is funked up and the band break the song down to just vocals and percussion giving the illusion that they’re done…but no. An incendiary drop back into the main song ensures that the band leave the crowd white hot as they exit.

Goat are an incredible band. Throughout their career, they have been prolific without compromising quality. There are an array of energies given off by the band that allows people to tap into different facets of the music. Whether you shut your eyes and bathe in the majesty of the music, or flail wildly to a blazing solo, Goat offer it all, and more.

The band return to the UK in November for three more dates:

14 November – Norwich, UEA
15 November – Oxford, 02 Academy
16 November – Nottingham, Rock City

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