We last saw the marvellous Let's Wrestle a year and a half ago at the Old Blue Last, when they cut through the pretension with their no-nonsense, furiously paced songs about playing computer games and being too scared to talk to girls.
They were great shambolic fun then, but now they are a serious, tight as you like delight, with news songs demonstrating a clear move on from the first album.
Lead singer Wesley Patrick Gonzalez has something of Frank Black about him - not only can he howl when he wants, but he has a sweet yearning voice that delivers lyrics with conviction and heart. The tight rhythm section give the band a lightning sense of momentum, all the while driving forward the sometimes poppy, sometimes grungy, and always rocky riffs.
It's Gonzalez's last gig as a teenager, which brings home just how bold they are in their confidence, and how rare it is to find a young band that excels in making music in their own very unique don't-give-a-fuck way.
It's clear how far they band have progressed, and they even have the chutzpah to finish the set with a staggering rock instrumental that just about blows the whole place apart. Their new album sounds great, and they are a million times more worthy than the half-full venue suggested. Expect great things from their second album, In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's, out now.
Words by Adam Richmond and Chloe George
