Walking into Loves Cafe on a crisp March evening, it was already clear that this wasn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill gig. The pre-show festivities, organised by Getdown Services Appreciation founders Andy and Kerry, set the tone perfectly with a peculiar crisp-tasting competition that paid homage to the band’s debut album, Crisps. Buckets of bewildering flavours delighted—and occasionally repulsed—their small but devoted community of fans. This oddball spirit carried right into the night.
Loves Cafe, with its welcoming vibe and charmingly intimate setup, couldn’t have been a better match for what was about to unfold. A cozy dance floor packed with euphoric energy and a balcony for the more reserved souls framed the scene. As Getdown Services’ Josh and Ben mingled with the crowd pre-show, their bond with their supporters was on full display, epitomised when they hilariously tried to offload the last of their XXXL merch in a room already buzzing with people proudly sporting the band’s gear.
At the unconventional sight of their laptop perched in a baby’s highchair, the band launched into their set. From the moment the surreal opener, I Got Views, kicked off, Getdown Services had the room gripped by their unique blend of humour and anti-establishment energy. Their lyrics, unapologetically explicit, prompted laughs, gasps, and even in-song apologies from the band themselves. One standout moment came when a fan unveiled a tattoo of a Wispa Gold chocolate bar on his leg—a nod to one of Josh’s quickfire one-liners.
The show became something more than a performance—it was a celebration of the close relationship between Getdown Services and their die-hard fans. The Weston crowd were rewarded with everything from a Beastie Boys Sabotage cover to a raucous singalong of I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. When they hit Crisps and the infectiously funky Fundango, it was indie disco bliss. But the euphoric peak? Dog Dribble. Fans screamed the nonsensical title with reckless abandon, turning the already sweaty cafe into a carnival of absurdity.
The night's hilarity reached fever pitch during an impromptu crowd-surfing saga. A superfan (nicknamed “The Turvinator”) scrambled above the crowd Superman-style, only to tumble down as another brave soul—our reviewer, no less—rose to take the throne. The seven-minute extended jam of Dog Dribble was a highlight, as Careless Wispas rained down on the crowd like sugary confetti.
Defying the curfew with all the gusto of a band that never wants the night to end, they cemented their legendary status in the hearts of everyone squeezed into Loves Cafe. Broken, sweaty, and utterly exhilarated, fans stumbled out into the Weston night, in desperate need of a Wispa Gold—and perhaps a nice lie down.
Getdown Services delivered one of the most delightfully chaotic, joy-filled gigs of recent memory. If you’re looking for a night of infectious energy, banging tunes, and enough absurdity to last a lifetime, make sure this band is firmly on your radar. Just bring your sense of humour—and maybe a spare Wispa Gold.
Words and Pics by Matt Barnes
