Famous for their former name The Muslims, you’d expect San Diego indie quartet The Soft Pack to deliver a fully fledged rock n roll performance; or at least some hard-hitting social commentary in-between tracks. But at the Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday night, The Soft Pack proved to be a very serious rock-by-numbers bunch, executing their ten-song set with the utmost rehearsed professionalism.
Opening with tracks Pull Out and Down on Loving, frontman and guitarist Matt Lamkin stood still centre stage, at times letting his guitar hang silent around his neck. Drummer Brian Hill stood beating his drums with a maraca and would spend the remainder of the set on his feet. Lamkin and Hill along with bassistDave Lantzman wore long sleeve button up shirts, their smart-casual attire proving suited to their performance. Guitarist Matty McLoughlin, the more jovial band member had a mouth that incessantly tried to eat his face, his knees would buckle as his teeth bit down hard at each chord progression. McLoughlin’s congenial antics teamed with his surfer-swank strumming made for an entertaining distraction.
Soft Pack played a mixture of tempos with Extinction and Brightside inciting slow dancers heads to loll and the obvious slow-jam Mexico even inspired a few lighters to ignite and sway. Acoustic backing instrumentals built layers on an already knotted set with crowd pleasers C’mon and Parasites a highlight.
Final tracks Answer to Yourself and Faithman showcased the boys musical capability, conjuring Ramones type nostalgia even if they were quite formulaic at times. Lamkin left the stage after his vocal duties were finished leaving his band mates to carry out an energised shred fest on their instruments (to the thorough enjoyment of the front row).
With no encore, you’d think the consensus would amount to disappointment; but The Soft Pack’s fans are an intelligent few. They realise the monotonous set was purposeful and didn’t come expecting to see rock stars – just a sweet indie band from San Diego who’s hard work truly does show.
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