Bristol dance-punk duo Getdown Services unleashed their signature brand of raucous energy on the unsuspecting crowd at the Southbank Centre's Meltdown Festival in London, leaving it all out there like a boxer throwing haymakers. It was a performance for the ages, fuelled by the same irreverent spirit that has made them recent NME cover stars and got everyone talking.
Meltdown Festival is the UK's premier celebration of music and art, with past curators including the likes of David Bowie, Robert Smith, Nick Cave, and Christine and the Queens. This year, global superstar Harry Styles took the reins, carefully selecting a diverse line-up that included Getdown Services' blistering set in the Purcell Room - all while he brought his own A-game next door with the Jules Buckley Orchestra.
Josh Law and Ben Sadler's witty banter was in full swing as they playfully poked fun at the venue's more subdued atmosphere, contrasting it with their usual high-octane live shows. They good-naturedly roasted Styles for choosing them - either 'someone in Harry's team needs sacking' or that he had 'deeply concerning mental health', before taking a cheeky dig at his former bandmates (a cover of Niall Horan's 'Dinner Party' was on the cards).
The real fireworks came when Getdown Services fired back at their online detractors, specifically those pesky Ian and Martin types who'd been giving them grief following their appearance on 'Later… With Jools Holland'. The duo's retort? To tell naysayers to 'suck my farts from my f***ing arse', setting the stage for a rapturously received rendition of their single 'Radiator' that left the sold-out crowd begging for more. They rounded off their set with Daft Punk-esque anthem 'Caesar' and the foot-stomping 'Dog Dribble', leaving everyone on their feet despite initial reservations about the venue.
Meltdown Festival still has a few days to go, with Orlando Weeks, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Soulwax, and Jon Hopkins all set to take to the stage. Meanwhile, Getdown Services are gearing up for an action-packed year, with their new album 'Massive Champion' dropping on August 14th via Breakfast Records, alongside a packed touring schedule that includes headline dates and a return to London's Roundhouse.
Source: NME