FU MANCHU, The Shrine @O2 Academy 2 Birmingham 17/9/12

Psychedelic Skate Rock is how Venice Beach, California’s The Shrine bill themselves. They are evidently pleased to come from Venice Beach, because they tell us where they come from three times during their 35 minute set, but whilst the location might evoke the twangy sound of the Byrds and so forth, they have a sound that owes a lot more to a band called Black Sabbath that was formed a little closer to our home.

In short The Shrine are exactly the sort of band you would want to support Fu Manchu. Heavy and fuzzy they are cranking out some fine stoner grooves. Vocalist/Lead guitar man Josh Landau is a cross between Slash and Franz Zappa, a mass of hair, but he can most certainly play. More than that we defy anyone who likes this type of metal to listen “Whistling’s Of Death” and title track of their debut album “Primitive Blast” and not find something very much to enjoy. Get into The Shrine, now, before everybody else does!

Following them would be a tough for most bands, but then most bands aren’t Fu Manchu. Lets be totally honest about this, with the possible exception of Monster Magnet, no one does this type of US Stoner metal better than Scott Hill and the boys – and that includes Kyuss for our money.

Their legacy is sufficient to see them be able to play to a reasonable crowd at a reasonable sized venue in the middle of a reasonable length tour of the UK. This rather sums FM up. Never quite bothering the mainstream but to those in the know they are very big deal indeed.

It is almost a shame that tonight Fu Manchu are playing an “album show.” They are here tonight to play their 1997 “The Action Is Go” record in full. A fine album, of course – The Fu’s just don’t do inferior stuff – but the format is just a little restrictive. Helmet did it earlier in the year, and the idea is very much in vogue, but it is not something that RTM is overly keen on.

But nonetheless, once “Evil Eye” starts up all that is forgotten and you are indulging in a desert rock masterclass. The title track is forcibly delivered with it’s “Like I said” refrain really hits home before the mid-paced “Burning Road” provides us some light and shade.

Saturn III is a sprawling epic, but Fu’s real quality is that no one quite marries up their twin guitar rffing – the duelling between Hill and Bob Balch is really spectacular – with their mastery of the chorus. And when that’s matched up with Scott Reeder’s drumming and Brad Davis’ bass, you are into something very special indeed.

Album over, the band are back for encore of “Mongoose,” perhaps their catchiest tune,  before ending with “King Of The Road.

Anyone who saw this knows it was excellent – just imagine how magnificent Fu Manchu would be if they weren’t ever so slightly hamstrung by their own setlist and could really cut loose.