Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s is jam-packed as the crowd sweat it out under the wayward influence of Amsterdam-based collective Personal Trainer and their quirky medley of groove-driven indie on the last night of their UK tour.
Support tonight comes from Glasgow’s self-proclaimed ‘purveyors of soupy rock’, The Wife Guys Of Reddit, whose energetic performance chucks lyrical mischief and clashing harmonies into a pot already boiling over with discordant guitar and churning baselines. A joy to watch, vocalist/guitarist Arion Xenos looks like he could combust any moment as he rages over the punk-driven riff of last year’s Pig Fat, his howls offset by the soothing intones of vocalist/bassist Niamh MacPhail, sporting an air of cool under her big, fluffy trapper hat. It’s impressive stuff and these wifey guys are definitely one to watch, so go seek them out! https://thewifeguysofreddit.bandcamp.com/
Personal Trainer miraculously manage to cram their gear onto the compact stage of Sneaky’s, though the seven-piece collective are down to six for the start of tonight’s gig…well something had to give, didn’t it? It’s unsurprisingly a sell-out as word continues to spread of the band’s witty and exuberant medley of groove-driven indie, propelled by band founder Willem Smit’s sung and spoken musings. At times their sound brings to mind elements of LCD Soundsystem, Talking Heads and Brooklyn art-punk collective, Bodega, but really, there’s no set formula to their style, and with so many musicians in the mix it can feel like they’re all doing their own thing, a bit like a bunch of over-grown school kids mucking about in music class while their teacher’s nipped out to the loo. Far from being a criticism though, it’s that playful cacophony which makes Personal Trainer one of the most refreshing and exciting bands around at the moment, pushing against the polished masses.
The full onslaught of euphoric fan favourite The Lazer reverberates around the venue, one of the first songs they wrote together as a band and tonight an illuminating blast of energy, Smit thinking out loud as he ponders the monotonous building blocks of life between an anthemic chorus, its funky baseline-groove building to the feverish cries of “why didn’t you leave me a slice of f**kin’ pizza?” Hmm could that explain the fate of the seventh Trainer? Whatever the case, there’s no time to call Dominoes as they continue to deluge us with the delights of last year’s debut album Big Love Blanket, while also dipping into tracks from 2021’s Gazebo EP such as Politics and Fiddlefunk.
Aside from their experimental approach, Personal Trainer also have an impeccable knack for crafting perfectly-formed indie-pop tunes, Former Puppy a great example, throwing in a Smiths riff and Stephen Malkmus vocal slant. Latest single Texas In The Kitchen is another of these delights and tonight we savour its deliciously dark undertones, Smit telling us that they’re getting up at the crack of dawn the next day to fly to Austin, Texas to take part in the SXSW Festival, having been touring the UK for the last two weeks. Well, if he was looking for some sympathy then he’s come to the wrong place, but it’s certainly exciting times for these guys and I’ve got no doubt they’ll cook up a storm.
After the irresistible funk of Rug Busters they change things up with the delightful distortion of You Better Start Scrubbing before Key of Ego, first release from Big Love Blanket, mashes another addictive groove together with biting hooks and a ferocious chorus, Smit wailing “an epiphany” with unhinged delirium. Superb!
Abel Tuinstra’s trumpet playing raises a grin as we’re transported back to that music class, Smit joining the audience for a moment to assess his band as a chap (who I’m assuming to be the missing Trainer) wanders on to the stage, brandishing a drumstick and tambourine, but alas no pizza. Their sound engineer’s also decided to get in on the action, taking the mic and announcing she’ll be singing last number, Milk, her modest charm shining through as we’re taken on a stroll through a carnival of sounds. As the rhythm section’s militant beat breaks up the mellow, meandering melody, Smit rejoins the party, proclaiming that he’ll “drink straight from the carton”. Aw not another one, you’d feel right at home in my house likes. Before long the crowd are in on the manky habit too, a jubilant singalong ending a fantastic night of invigorating new musical talent.
Personal Trainer’s cheeky and chaotic celebration of music is made for festival audiences, and with a performance like this evening’s, it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing them in such compact conditions for much longer!
Big Love Blanket is out now, grab it here: https://personaltrainer.bandcamp.com/merch
Words: Shirley Mack @musingsbymarie
Pictures: Calum Mackintosh@ayecandyphotography