Live Review – Goldie Lookin’ Chain @ The Mill

Goldie Lookin’ Chain

Goldie Lookin’ Chain

The Mill

Review by Kirsty Harrod

Stretching the term ‘indie’ as far as it can go, Indie Midlands went to see Welsh comedy hip-hop band Goldie Lookin Chain’ at The Mill last Thursday.

But first up, support band Youth Killed It set the tone for the evening. Someone tell Linkin Park that rap rock is not dead, because these guys have brought it back. With loud guitars that were sometimes hardcore and sometimes jangly (think a cross between Muse and early Two Door Cinema Club), mixed with lyrical rapping, Youth Killed It gave an excellent warm up.

Finally came ‘the GLC’, who were greeted with huge cheers from the entirely middle-aged male audience. Decked out in novelty sunglasses and oversized chains, seven ageing men bounded onto the stage with no instruments – just mics and a weed-patterned backdrop. They launch into their first song which sounds a lot like they’re saying “ice ice dildo”. That song turns out to be called… ‘Ice Ice Dildo’. As one of the gang fake-masturbates on stage, the crowd lights up. This is music for your dad’s mate who ‘thinks he could make it as a stand-up comedian’. Their whole set feels a lot like karaoke at the office Christmas party. Sure, they’re full of energy, but after a while (about 10 minutes), seven men jumping up and down out of time with the music gets a little dull.

However, there were highlights. The straight-up cover of ‘Walk This Way’ got everyone singing along, and the song about their favourite corner shop made me laugh out loud. Finally came the one we’ve all been waiting for – ‘Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do’. As everyone bopped along, it wasn’t hard to see why this track got to number one all over the world. The crowd of dedicated fans were clearly having their best night out in ages, and I found myself coming round to these loveable Welsh rogues.

That was before some of their lyrics became clear to me. Crowd favourite ‘Your Missus is a Nutter’ is a misogynistic pile of garbage, and many of their other songs weren’t much better. This is music best left in the past. Eventually it all got too much, and I couldn’t stick it out to the end of the gig. If you’re a huge fan, sure, go see them. If you’re under 40, don’t bother.