PAWS Bring the Noise and the Laughs

Chicago – Phillip Taylor laughed loudly and uncontrollably. The singer’s wicked cackles echoed through Lincoln Hall, as bassist Ryan Drever lay on stage giggling. Ryan had fallen flat on his arse whilst walking across the stage. Phillip attempted to collect himself. He walked up to the mic and teased, “And that’s it! That’s all we have for you!” He joked that Drever’s clumsiness was now THE highlight of PAWS’ U.S. tour, giving him something to write home about. Home being Glasgow. These Scottish lads have been making more and more noise, at home and abroad, with news of their upcoming release Youth Culture Forever. Their Friday night show in Chicago proved that the growing attention is for due measure.

Soon after Ryan’s misfortune, drummer Josh Swinney walked out on stage – who by the way made it clear he was bummed to have missed Ryan take a tumble – and the boys got cracking, starting the night off with “Jellyfish.” This hard hitting song, off of their debut album Coakfloat!, seemed to be the perfect way to get the crowd going… too bad the majority of the audience remained rather stiff. Ryan took notice of this and quipped, “It’s quiet as a church in here! Are you expecting a preacher?” Phillip looked over at Ryan and inquisitively remarked, “Maybe it’s just that people outside of Glasgow are courteous?” Josh then added his two cents: “Or maybe they’re just not alcoholics like us?”

The room may not have been thrashing around to their punkish garage rock, but they sure were laughing. A lot. In between songs the guys of PAWS took the time to joke and chat with the group. At one point they noted that as they had introduced themselves everyone knew their names, but they didn’t know any of ours. So they asked that everyone in crowd yell out their names on the count of three; names were loudly barked and followed with plenty of guffaws. Their lively stage presence this night compared to an earlier gig we reviewed demonstrates that they’ve grown as performers. I’m betting that being on tour with We Are Scientists has been extremely educational for PAWS in improving upon their stage banter and performance. Of course, they couldn’t woo the crowd without their fabulous personalities, so let’s not give WAS all the credit!

Their wit and buoyant performance combined with emotionally gritty songs make PAWS a killer band to see live. Hearing Phillip sing songs like “Catherine 1956,” “Poor Old Christopher Robin,” and “Owls Talons Clenching My Heart” truly brings sentience to his songwriting. His feelings, especially his sadness, anger, and frustration, can be heard much more clearly live. Not that his lyrics and voice aren’t fervent on Coakfloat! or Youth Culture Forever; it’s just that seeing Phillip close his eyes and wrinkle his nose in disgust when he sings of the horrors of cancer or watching the smile grow on his glowing face when he sings of love breathes new life into his raw and straightforward lyrics. Phillip pours his heart out on stage.

PAWS played a mixed bag of goodies from albums past and present. The boys rocked oldies “Sour Tummy” and “Bloodline” and newbies “An Honest Romance,” “Narcissist,” and “Give Up.” Of course they also played their recent single “Tongues.” Josh really knocked it out of the park with his drumming on that one! They also covered Fang’s “The Money Will Roll Right In,” headbanging and shredding around stage. I only wish the audience was pounding it out along with ‘em. Quite understandably though, headliners WAS draw in a more relaxed, chill crowd, who probably don’t attend many punk shows. Hopefully when PAWS make their way back to Chicago (Phillip said they’d be back sometime around October!) they’ll be blessed with a more raunchy and raucous assembly.

PAWS are touring the U.S. with We Are Scientists until the middle of May. Then they’ll be crossing the North Atlantic for their YCF UK Tour. Click here to check out their tour dates. Youth Culture Forever is set for release on May 6, 2014. You can preorder through iTunes or buy a limited edition green vinyl through Fat Cat Records. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a BestNewBands review of Youth Culture Forever and an interview with Phillip Taylor.

(All photos by Sarah Hess: smhimaging.com)

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Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.

You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.