Lay Out The Traps

Underground punk outfit Lay Out The Traps have been purposely assigned the top slot of this four-set shindig at Camden’s Purple Turtle. And living up to their name they’ve obviously snared the clear majority of the turnout who all eagerly push to the front as the band step up.

Last year’s self-released album 'Beneath The Underdog' struck with great force and their notorious shows are said to elevate it further. The frantic numbers especially breed a wild excitement however a veneer of ambiguous attitude kind of confuses their point on the live platform.

Wielding his bass emblazoned with the claim "this machine kills fashion" - an accolade better awarded to the clogs, yes clogs, he was wearing - terrifically-named Boff Konkerz does overtly stake his punk claim. Though less could be said for semi-clad bait on lead vocals Paul who despite looking the part of frontman doesn’t head up the band with assured leadership. At times passing his duties notably to Boff he seems more up for the craic, pulling blasé facial expressions including a rather irritating self-satisfied grin. Growling through each track his impish persona attempts to charm but it's more Billy Idle than Idol and tends to grate somewhat. More significantly it distracts from the fact his band are creating a fantastic furious sonic stampede for all that frivolous glory.

It's ironic that vacant-faced guitarist Lee actually grabs the real attention on this occasion. Having spent the entire set clambering on and off the bar next to the stage he scales the towering speakers during their final song to make a leap of faith into the crowd. Hardly spectacular but worthy of a trip to A&E it later transpired.

You get the feeling it’d take much more than a gammy leg to really floor this lot, though and good luck to them keeping that subterranean fire burning.