Sleaford Mods
Opera House
Sydney, Australia
02 June 2023
When I first encountered Sleaford Mods many moons ago, their abrasive, electronically charged minimalist punk-hop that framed their rants about the austerity of a deeply divided, modern day England and the trials of working class life felt like an indulgent lecture about the futility of modern day life.
In other words, it was irresistibly appealing.
With Sleaford Mods’ idiosyncratic post-everything melange comprised in equal parts of social commentary, rapid-fire stream of consciousness vocal delivery, rowdy Northern piss-taking and all out advocacy for letting yourself go, there is something to be found for anyone who harbours a modicum of interest in punk or hip hop.
Carried by pulsating, repetitive productions of bass and drums as the main instrumental elements and set in scene by a bank of bright, flickering lights serving as an entrancing torrent of visual stimuli intensifying every angle, the rawness, intensity and immediacy of the duo incarnating within the confines of Sydney’s Opera House still feels as intact as it was when I first encountered them in an art café in London.
Much more popular but still retaining purpose by remaining politically engaged and visceral, the woefully vitriolic emissions and ostrich-esque demeanour of inimitable vocalist Jason Williamson, who manages to embody a different personality with each barked lyric as he paces the stage tweaking and contorting, flanked by beatmaker Andrew Fearn, who after pushing play on his laptop indulges in frantically flailing his arms and legs for the duration of the show, result in a seamless, endlessly energetic and engaging show that musically sits comfortably between Anarcho-punk, Britpop, Grime and dancehall, which translates effortlessly and resonates with the definingly middle-aged crowd.
