For the third time in as many years, Warmduscher, the epitome of the phrase “chaos but good chaos”, paid Nottingham a visit. And, of course, LeftLion got in on the action...
This one is due to be as theatrical and bizarre as Warmduscher's previous visits to our city, for the five-piece, who have taken their act to be Surrealism on steroids, are at the apex of their talent. The impending snapped ankles (not to be confused with the experimental outfit from South London, who are just as outrageous) from the abyss of a Rescue Rooms mosh are to be feared, but this is all part of the act, unfortunately. The pain and discomfort of a mosh pit, whilst not being as agile as I once was, can be minor when dealing with ecstasy of a Warmduscher spectacular and the endorphins it releases.
The act, synonymous with The Windmill, Brixton, and spawning following the extrication of Fat White Family members Lias Sauodi and Saul Adamczewski, are celebrating 10 years of releasing music. And having five albums to their name has not stopped them from making that six - with the new one scheduled for next year.
Being one of the first on the floor is a first for me; the anxiety of not knowing the set times until an hour before, and the venue having a printing error on the poster…(oops) made things a bit tetchy, but these things pass very easily; there is a calm before the storm.
Providing the first of two support acts is The People Assembly, a Leicester-based act committed to bringing the same energy akin to that generated in the pits of The Windmill. From then, it's a dip into the obscure stylings of Dublin post-punk as this Assembly honours the cacophonous sounds of Gilla Band and some little known band with DC in their name... wondering what happened to them.
The balance of weird and gloomy is fitting, especially with a gothic rendition of Wonderwall that was a real “out of nowhere” moment. With this being said, the set is plagued by a few hiccups with the floor tom deciding it had had enough and collapsing on its side - sometimes it gets a bit “too real” - and with drumsticks flying all over the stage splintered down the middle. Rather than this being a minor few hiccups as said, the unintended destruction of instruments added more subversiveness, kinda of like a This Heat gig from the early 80s. This was chaotic, but again, chaos is good chaos, remember?
However, sometimes chaos doesn’t gain the traction acts hope for. Sadly, this proves to be the case for Blood Wizard’s Cai Burns. The bassist was “struck down with the plague” according to Burns, and singer Faye also wasn’t 100 per cent. From what was anticipated to be an energetic alt-pop trio continuing the high energy train, instead Burns had to go it alone. It was a shame as his vocal style differs much from Faye on the records and it doesn’t quite hit as an acoustic set.
Burns isn’t helped by the quiet mic he’s been handed and the murmuring from the bar and beyond; a total distraction from the music and undermining the effort it takes to put a set together on your own at short notice. This murmuring is one of my biggest pet peeves. If you're going to do it - don’t bother coming in the first place. Rant over.
After the vibe was somewhat muted, Warmduscher are on hand to re-establish the chaotic order of the day. These guys have really established themselves as the most bizarre band of the 21st Century (wouldn’t be a far stretch as there really isn’t anything like them). Led by Clams Baker Jr, the alter ego of Craig Higgins, they have tendencies to take off the ramshackles and play music as if it's hardcore dodgeball. To put it mildly, you need more than just ear plugs for this one; a spare pair of knee pads wouldn’t go amiss.
The first serving is Midnight Dipper, the song that elevates any room, the temperature, mood, everything. This was arguably the song that gained them the most attraction and forged their identity from strange to popular outcasts. It’s an instant bopper. A track that’s morphing into a disco-punk modern classic that will be looked upon fondly for years to come.
Clams Baker has a sort of dictatorial element to his stage presence, giving his troops rallying calls and for the audience to not “take no for a f****** answer” to rally them. His alter-ego is like that of a televangelist crossed with the head of a county fair known for being eccentric and letting anything go. His biggest trait is to be amongst the crowd with his extended microphone getting as close as possible and getting to know the thoughts of the Rescue Room regulars. He points his microphone like a “stand and deliver” highway man would his saber and thrust in the face of anyone nearby like an angry voxpop. This is most evident during I Got Friends and Tainted Lunch. Judging from the hive of activity in the mosh, he and I have just made some new ones. All this while the elongated lead is wrapping itself round people's necks and security trying to untangle the serpent and set the front row free.
This was an evening to celebrate the strangest band for a very long time, which also happens to be the birthday of bassist Benjamin Romans Hopcroft. The unmistakable sound of Warmduscher has been years in the making. This has resulted in a Gestamkurtswerk worthy of the highest praise. Think of the weirdest dream dinner party guestlist full of excentrics and pioneers of the avant-garde and weird, say Terry Gilliam, William Burroughs, Captain Beefheart or Marcel Duchamp. Add sound amongst the mix and you get Warmduscher, to make it even more surreal, throw the location into the Borderlands universe.
Over the past three years they have graced our city and left this performance to be the best before what promises to be a busy 2026 with a plethora of tour dates and the commencing of album number six. Truly exciting times ahead.
Now to head home if only my battered knees and ankles will get me out of the venue first...
Warmduscher performed at Rescue Rooms on 26th November 2025.
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