No Rest For The Spacemen: Fickle Pickle, Southend

Image Credit: Indie Cult Club

Watford outfit No Rest for the Spacemen made their Indie Cult Club debut last week at the Fickle Pickle.

‘Music Till I Die’ was the kind of indie-psyche number that’s destined to remain a set opener for decades. Between the John Squire-esque hooks and the funked-up basslines, they conjured the kind of magic that has the Death Star’s tractor beam power!

Lead guitarist Danny is a show-stealing performer. His elaborate flourishes and solos on ‘Goodbye Jane’ and the warped debauchery of ‘MASH’ led the band's charge to announce themselves. Cutting through the mayhem was frontman Charlie. His deep drawl on ‘MASH’ leans into the cool of Jonathan Richman, whilst on ‘Somebody Like You’ he beds in between the Baxter Dury and Ian Broudie to deliver great pop sensibilities.

On ‘Goodbye Jane’, these strengths converged, hinting at UK rock ’n’ roll’s next great partnership. They pushed and pulled against each other with effortless chemistry, each recognising the other’s talent and knowing exactly when to step aside.

In recent years, The Lilacs and The K’s have kicked open the doors for this kind of ecstatic indie guitar music, and on this showing, No Rest for the Spacemen look a dead cert to knock it off its hinges.