REPORT: Sultans Of Ping reign supreme at Rock City

The cavernous surrounds of Nottingham’s Rock City are the setting for a generous dose of jangle-tasic sonic fare trading as the city’s inaugural Indie All Dayer.

Cork luminaries The Sultans Of Ping kick off in the main venue with trademark aplomb treating the audience to a career-spanning set which includes the raucous ‘Give Him A Ball (And A Yard Of Grass)’, brazen outing ‘Teenage Punks’ and melodic gem ‘Let’s Go Shopping’.

Commanding frontman Niall O’Flaherty dominates the stage; strutting, scowling, posing with a tongue-in-cheek playfulness and occasionally staring defiantly out at the crowd while the band blast flawlessly through the hits. ‘You Talk Too Much’ and ‘Where’s Me Jumper?’ induce mass sing-a-longs and seasoned moshing.

Given their bizarre time slot of 3.45pm, the Sultans nonetheless provide a belter of a performance replete with a myriad of cleverly crafted infectious tracks. It is all too easy to forget the breadth and diversity of their stellar output, overshadowed as it has been by the ubiquitous nature of the sartorial-themed anthem.

They are followed on stage by Brix and the Extricated who belt out a bevy of Fall classics Mark E Smith would never deign to air. ‘Mr Pharmacist’, ‘Totally Wired’ and ‘Hip Priest’ take on a powerful new dimension when not growled by the dour Mancunian.

Brix’s bright yet gritty vocals soar impressively atop the sonic juggernaut driven by Steve Hanley’s merciless basslines. New offering ‘Something To Lose’ bodes well for future output.

Fellow Northerners The Woodentops are the pinnacle of proceedings on the second stage; their eclectic indie fusions draw from a variegated sonic palette that make for a compelling live proposition. Impressively, recent outing 'Third Floor Rooftop High' goes down as well as celebrated numbers such as 'Good Thing' and 'Move Me'.

Back in the main venue Dave Gedge and The Wedding Present unleash an hour-long greatest hits extravaganza which bring us back the halcyon days or yore. Opening gambit 'Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft' ushers in a flawless set which understandably peaks when the clamorous, jagged strains of ‘Kennedy’ sees hundreds of former indie kids let loose with nostalgic glee.

Headliners Echo & The Bunnymen go straight for the jugular by setting out their stall with a fine selection from seminal album Crocodiles.

Almost rivalling Andrew Eldritch for his love of dry ice and low lighting, Mac and co are spectre-like throughout. The hits are delivered with impeccable finesse and who can argue with the inherent brilliance of songs like ‘The Killing Moon’ and ‘Bring On The Dancing Horses’?

Nevertheless, Mac’s aversion to movement or banter makes for a somewhat sterile performance. The last time your humble correspondent saw the troupe the singer was a veritable gasbag; banging on about Brendan Rodgers and the state of his beloved Liverpool FC and (gasp) praising Will Sergeant’s guitar prowess.

Elsewhere caps are doffed to Jim Morrison via well-known cover 'People Are Strange' and later in the set Lou Reed's 'Walk On The Wild Side' and Wilson Pickett's 'In The Midnight Hour' get the scouse treatment.

Despite his lack of interaction, classics like ‘Seven Seas’ and ‘The Cutter’ deliver genuinely magical moments. And ‘Constantinople’ from latest outing Meteorites proves just as majestic.

On a day of many highlights the Sultans emerge triumphant. Let’s hope it’s not too long before they return to home ground.

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