Live Report: Just Mustard at 3 All For Music

The Dundalk five-piece took over the 3 All For Music stage at Electric Picnic with self-assured dexterity, wordlessly cutting cheers from their gathering crowd with the enchanting ‘Mirrors.’ Sparkling with haunting beauty and noisy instrumentals, the opening track built a formidable wall for what was to come from Just Mustard.

All eyes fell on guitarist Mete Kalyon as he whipped out a violin bow for ‘23.’ Gliding across the neck of his instrument, Kalyon’s eerily drawn-out strings over Rob Clarke’s anchoring bassline shaped a massive sound. Stoic frontwoman Katie Ball’s vocals clashed with guitarist David Noonan’s rugged voice. Somehow the contradiction results in a beautiful, enigmatic paradox.

Just Mustard at Electric Picnic. Copyright: Liam Murphy/hotpress.com

As the fuzzy distortion of Clarke’s bass thundered, energetic cheers from the crowd signalled ‘Deaf’ as a clear favourite. Just Mustard has a knack for reeling you in with the unexpected – as searing guitars and sparse snare drums drove the track toward the bridge, Noonan’s angry screams fueled the song’s disruptive climax.

The undercurrent of Clarke’s bassline on ‘Frank’ propelled the song toward a flailing guitar solo. As the final song of the set, ‘Seed’ saw Kalyon chuck his guitar down and kneel above the pedals, manipulating the strings into a twisting, rapturous sound to mirror Ball’s enigmatic vocals.

Just Mustard at Electric Picnic. Copyright: Liam Murphy/hotpress.com

Driven by the force of masterful twin guitarists, Just Mustard showcased their huge sound for an ultimately propulsive set. The Irish post-punks were simultaneously startling and hypnotic, proving their powers and leaving their entranced crowd catching their breaths at the end of it all.

Stay tuned for more live reports, photos and all things Electric Picnic, live from Stradbally.