Sack Trick Live at the Heilanman’s Bar, Glasgow
Review by Laurie Parker- Drowned in Sound
www.drownedinsound.com

Sack trick rocked out in Glasgow, Heilanman’s Bar.

The legendary Sack Trick came to my town! We got ourselves psyched up for some metallic mayhem--my mum was visiting from America and she was well up for it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect... I had heard good things from a friend who had seen them in London, and she and I have very similar taste, but I'd never been to Heilanman's and I'd had a long week. I was well impressed with the venue: very intimate and rock. Lots of mullet haircuts (business in the front, party in the back), leather, and old-skool rock-and-rollers. However, there was a large contingent present from the next generation of rockers--about 10-15 fourteen-year-olds in Marilyn Manson and Korn t-shirts and goth slut make-up. Were they there to see Sack Trick, or perhaps their friends in the opening band, Little Miss Strange (apparently from Glasgow)?

I was not overly impressed with Little Miss Strange, they/she sounded like a Garbage record stuck on a 3-chord part of a song. I like a little more variety in my music, and though I quite like Garbage, there's only so much need for that exact sound. Sack Trick, though, gave me all the variety I needed! Those guys know their metal, and they know how to play rock. The bass player was wearing a full radiation suit, including mask, the two drummers seemed to be dressed as some kind of prison mimes, and Chris our friend the guitarist was homey-g chill out, complete with clock necklace. They gave us a very rocking set, with some great metal guitar solos, and some impressively tight playing. They're very skilled musicians, so much so that it's hard to tell if they're creating a parody of the genres of music they play, or if they want to be serious metal rockers. They didn't just play metal, though, there was also a great rap/hip hop tune complete with some freestylin' by one of the drummers whilst perched atop the windowsill in true jailbird bruthah style. I did miss the full-on experience of the complete band. Since they have some ridiculous number of people in the band, all in rotation, it's usually not a problem. But I guess Glasgow was just a little too far for folks to come. I'll survive--but I sure did want to see that keyboard player in a penguin costume.

The fourteen year olds apparently were there to see Sack Trick, because as soon as our boys took the stage the kids went wild. They were singing along to all the songs and jumping up and down like mad things. Two bouncers immediately flanked the group of youngsters, giving them the evil eye and the occasional pointed index finger. I suppose it was necessary, given the lack of stage-ness and the potential for disaster if anyone pogo-ed too close to the monitors... but it did look pretty funny. The bouncers were like evil fun-preventors, scowling on anyone under the age of 35 who was having a good time. Well, they didn't scowl at my mum, who had a blast. We all did--in fact, the most notable thing about seeing Sack Trick live is that they are so FUN. Even in slightly anemic format, with evil overlord bouncers, everyone there still had a rollicking good time and no one wanted it to end. So thank you Sack Trick, for providing the service of good old fashioned talented fun to the community. And if they're ever in your town, go jump on the Sack Trick fun-wagon and bring lots of friends!!