The Rescue Rooms was the venue on Wednesday night for an eclectic selection of bands headlined by American quintet La Dispute.
A good crowd was already in place for the opening band of the evening - Shapes are a trio of noisy experimental musicians from Birmingham who play a mixture…
Baby Godzilla - As Dedicated As They Are Unpredictable
by Wolfpack Media.
An in depth look at the life of Baby Godzilla, both on stage and off the stage.
Friday night saw a stellar lineup of UK bands come to the Chameleon Café, showcasing the variety and diversity of the Post Rock genre. The event was hosted by Buttonpusher promotions, who have been hosting some excellent shows in the Midlands in recent months.
Opening the show were the Derby duo A-tota-so, who play an experimental, somewhat minimalist selection of tracks. There are many of the hallmarks of the genre present, with the music building up repeatedly before returning to its original sounds and melodies, before moving off to explore a new direction again. A tried and tested formula perhaps, but A-tota-so deliver it well, switching from calm to frenetic effortlessly. The set passed in what felt like only a few minutes, which is a testament to the band’s ability to keep you interested – definitely one to watch.
Next to the stage was Karhide, an instrumental project from Southampton composed and fronted by Tim Waterfield. Tim has previously toured with a live band but tonight was performing solo for us, playing the lead guitar parts himself and feeding in the remaining parts via laptop. Karhide’s pieces focus far more on the heavier elements of the rock music spectrum, with atmospheric, pounding bass parts complemented by droning guitar compositions. Once again it doesn’t take long for the crowd in attendance to collectively nod in time to the music, as Tim works through his complex melodies effortlessly. In no way is the performance harmed by the absence of a live band – the production qualities on the laptop track are superb, and it would take a well trained individual to spot the difference if their eyes were closed!
Nottingham’s own 8mm Orchestra were up next, a band who have been quickly gaining attention in the local scene in recent months for their atmospheric ambient works. The band were once again on top form tonight, performing to an almost full room, all of whom were hanging on every note. Musically the band are already creating pieces which sound both original and familiar, which is quite an achievement in such a varied scene. The gentle introductions build up slowly – always a challenge for newer bands, too often it feels like a race to the wall of noise at the end – and eventually crescendo to a fantastic climax. The band advertise themselves as suitable for fans of Post-Rock stalwarts such as Battles and Godspeed You! Black Emperor – personally the band most reminds me of the Japanese group Mono, and if they can continue to create music in that vein, then I can only see good things for this band.
With the clock almost striking midnight, Kent’s upcdownc (formerly upcdowncleftrightcabc+start, Google it if you don’t get the reference) close the night out for us. Since their last show at the Chameleon, the band have released another full length album, Calaveras, and so it is a good opportunity to see some new material from a band who have now been playing shows for several years. This fact shines through in the performance, which is confident, professional and emotional. The band has experimented with many different styles across their 4 albums, so in the space of a 40 minute set we were treated to gentle, ambient introductions, melodic keyboard parts, droning guitars and intense drumming, which concluded with an almost apocalyptic wall of noise and all 4 members of the band breaking drumsticks left, right and centre, in a scene more akin to a military tattoo than a rock gig. The set once again leaves those in attendance with very little doubt – upcdownc are one of the premier bands in the UK Post-Rock scene, and quite simply you should go and see them whenever you can. The comment I heard from someone as they were leaving the show was “that has just rewritten the rulebook for how I rate gigs”. I think that says it all.
Spycatcher take to the stage just as the room is filling up. It’s a shame that there weren’t more people to witness their anthemic brand of melodic punk rock. The few people who have made it into the venue early are rewarded with a passionate performance on par with what you would expect from a headline act. This Watford quintet are eager to win the crowds hearts tonight and they can walk away with their heads held high knowing that they have done just that.
Amongst all the bands that think it’s obligatory to put out the occasional half hearted acoustic track, Defeater are a band who take it seriously and do it well. Tonight, the Boston quintet opens with ‘But Breathing’ before launching into the plugged part of their set with ‘Dear Father.’ The contrast of between the too songs makes the latter track go off like an eruption. Too many other bands make a lot of empty noise for the sake of it. However, Defeater really excels at putting emotion and meaning behind the hardcore they play. Derek Archambault’s impassioned vocals often need little aid from the mic. Whenever he is drowned out by the ruckus, the diehard fans down the front fill in for him during favourites such as ‘Cowardice’ and ‘Red, White and Blues.’
Playing on such a high profile tour such as this bookends a triumphant year for the band with their new album ‘Empty Day and Sleepless Nights’ has been getting top reviews all round.
Next up, Trash Talk changes the pace entirely with salvo after salvo of straight up hardcore punk aggression. They manage to blast through over a dozen songs within 30 minutes. To best sum up the experience, one of the punters was overheard saying - “You don’t watch a Trash Talk show, your ARE a Trash Talk show.” Vocalist Lee Speilman Invades the front rows more than a few times, gets stick into the middle of the mosh and encourages a circle pit to charge around him. Before they leave the stage to make way for Every Time I die, Lee takes to the balcony and climbs over the outside of the railings. There is a mixture of trepidation amongst those who know the band for his extreme antics and his habit of throwing himself of such places. Fortunately he saves himself the broken bones tonight by exiting down the stairs.
The last time the reviewer saw Every Time I Die play Nottingham it was at Rock City. They seemed to be lack of much needed ferocity to their frenetic Southern Rock tinged Hardcore sound. However, tonight they are well and truly back on form. Kicking off with ‘Apocalypse Now and Then’ makes sure that the crowd don’t hesitate with getting a mosh going.
It seems like after 2 years since it’s release, touring to promote 2009’s New Junk Aesthetic is out of the window because what follows is a set of solid fan favourites mainly off of Hot Damn! and Gutter Phenomenon. ‘Ebolarama’ and ‘She’s My Rushmore’ in particular cause a sudden influx of people trying to get into the mosh, making the pit swell to almost reach both sides of the narrow venue. Those not wishing to partake hug the walls in a state of wonder and anxiety. Meanwhile frontman, Keith Buckley openly encourages people up to stage dive, an activity that DHP venues don’t usually tolerate. But words must have been said before hand because the security ‘are your friends’ as he puts it. By the time the set closer ‘Floater’ comes about, anything goes! The stage is invaded what must be upwards of 50 people. Every Time I Die and the fans present tonight have set a high benchmark for the rest of the tour.
This week we have another look at what’s going on in the world of Some Dudes - Notts DIY Collective. Make sure you keep reading because at the end of the article we have a preview of some of the gigs coming up in December!
Lost On Campus/Jimmy Holland - Nottingham House Show, 19/11/2011
We have previously covered gigs on this blog promoted by the Nottingham Based collective Some Dudes. In addition to their full shows they are also quickly gaining a reputation for promoting House Shows, which are promoted in association with the University Of Nottingham’s Alternative Musical Society, PunkSoc. These are open events though, as evidenced by the mixture of students, former students and other punters looking for a fun evening. Last Saturday saw another in their ‘Someone Say House Show?’ series, with 4 artists performing songs in a Lenton living room.
Opening the evening was Nottingham’s James Wright, part of the Some Dudes collective, who warmed the crowd up with some original compositions and cover songs. James plays original compositions which are inspired by some of the great emo/pop-punk bands of the past decade such as The Movielife and Midtown, and shows tremendous confidence playing some of these pieces to a crowd for only the first or second time. His vocal range and strength is impressive, and whilst the original compositions are not disappointing, a cover of Saves The Day’s iconic “At Your Funeral” is undoubtedly the highlight. If any of the crowd weren’t already won over, a cover of the theme tune from Arthur sealed the hearts of the entire crowd.
Next up was Hertfordshire’s Nick Akam, a Nottingham University student, who also performed both original compositions and cover songs. Nick’s style leans more towards the political-punk end of the spectrum, with covers by Bad Religion and The Gaslight Anthem sprinkled in amongst his own works, which have been seen at many house shows in the past couple of years, and as a result are as much of a singalong event as any cover song or more ‘established’ act. Nick sings with a vocal style that relies far more on passion and emotion than outright power or noise, and it lends well to the small room environment, particularly during an impressive cover of Gaslight’s “1930”. The set was enjoyed by the crowd, and even in resulted in the destruction of a ceiling, but more on this later.
Following the local boys was the first of the evening’s 2 touring artists. Jimmy Holland has quickly gathered a following both in his hometown of Leeds, where he headlined the Acoustic Stage at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival, and also elsewhere, with his thoughtful and emotive compositions. Jimmy uses guitar more as an accompaniment than other artists, often singing to a backdrop of total silence, which only helps to emphasise the words and the meanings behind them. Jimmy’s songs are written straight from the heart and talk about his life experiences, and although he’s only in his early twenties, he writes with a maturity beyond his years. An enjoyable set finished on the light hearted note of the Pokemon Theme Tune, to everyone’s pleasure!
Closing the evening was London’s Rob Lynch. Rob has previously released material under the name ‘Lost On Campus’, but is now touring under his own name, delivering his upbeat acoustic pop-punk to crowds around the country. Rob’s rhythms are catchy and inspire many handclaps amongst those watching. The choruses sound instantly familiar, meaning that even those who don’t know the words are singing along before the end of most of the songs. The set was thoroughly enjoyed by all those present, and whilst the smoke alarm that was set off towards the end of the set may well have just been a coincidence, it summed up the energy in the room.
In closing, this show really was something a bit special. Whilst going and seeing bands in larger venues is always enjoyable, the chance to attend something like this, with people playing for the sheer enjoyment of it, is what music is really all about. This is not the first Some Dudes House Show this reviewer has attended, and the visiting artists always say the same thing - these shows and this atmosphere does not exist in many other places. If you have even a passing interest in acoustic or alternative music, then take the time to find out about the shows being promoted by this collective. You’ll always find great bands and great people - tonight’s show alone saw several human pyramids, including one which dented the ceiling, and one of the performing artists crowd surfing out of a window. And how can that not be fun?
December Gig Preview
With December just around the corner, Notts About Music takes a look at a selection of shows in and around the City, so you can go and enjoy some live music before you stuff yourself full of Turkey and watch rubbish films this Christmas.
For those wanting to explore the more light hearted side of music, you could do far worse than The Old Angel on December 2nd. Headlined by Essex’s Kunt And The Gang with Nottingham’s Arse Full Of Chips supporting, you’re not likely to find too many songs about emotional breakups here.
Location: The Old Angel, Stoney Street, Nottingham
Date: 02/12/2011
Price: £6
Link: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/140931
Nottingham’s Bodega Social will be visited on December 6th by two up and coming bands in the Indie Rock/Indie Pop scene, with We Were Promised Jetpacks, supported by Let’s Buy Happiness. Both of these bands are already receiving coverage in established music magazines and airplay on the radio - catch them now before they hit the bigger venues.
Location: Bodega Social, Pelham Street, Nottingham
Date: 06/12/2011
Price: £7 in advance
Link: http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/alttickets/event_ate_13668a.html
If you’re looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of Nottingham, Mansfield’s Atmosphere Clubnight will be hosting live bands for the first time on December 8th, hosting a lineup headlined by Essex Sextet Finisher. Local bands Armed For A Crisis and With Silent Eyes will also be playing. Entry is cheap and the drinks are cheaper, this should be a good night.
Location: VIBE Mansfield, Stockwell Gate, Mansfield
Date: 08/12/2011
Price: £3
Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121098561334106
The Rescue Rooms will play host to some of the premier bands in the thriving Emotive Hardcore scene. Headlined by Pennsylvania’s Title Fight, the lineup also includes Balance & Composure and Transit. Expect emotional singalongs and crowd surfing galore.
Location: The Rescue Rooms, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham
Date: 14/12/2011
Price: £8.50 in advance
Link: http://www.rescuerooms.com/gig-guide/89/title-fight
And once, Christmas is done and you start hastily arranging your plans for New Year’s Eve, may we recommend The Maze as your choice of venue? This New Year’s Party will feature all the usual celebrations, but also sets by Notts About Music favourites Baby Godzilla and Hot Japanese Girl, amongst others. And at only £10 on the door, it’s significantly cheaper than the majority of New Year Clubnights. We’ll see you there!
Location: The Maze, Mansfield Road, Nottingham
Date: 31/12/2011
Price: £7 in advance, £10 on the door
Link: http://www.themazerocks.com/gigs?lgig=b73c8ca5-3da4-4893-b23e-e0f3835f82c3&performance=1
Exit Ten/Fei Comodo/Never Means Maybe - Rock City, 10/11/11
Notts About Music once again ventured into the friendly confines of Rock City’s smaller room, The Basement, to see 3 of the UK’s most dedicated touring Rock Bands on one night of their 22 date UK Tour. The show attracted a good crowd, who received all the bands well.
Covered before on this website, Laguna Sunrise were tonight making their first appearance at Rock City. And they certainly stepped up to the plate - despite sharing very little in common with the bands to follow, they delivered a set full of energy which had the majority of the audience bobbing along to the mix of keyboard melodies and breakdowns. The performance was notably crisper than previous occasions that this reviewer has seen them, and they were warmly received by those that had arrived early. It’s safe to say that Laguna Sunrise will be gracing the stage at Rock City again before too long.
Never Means Maybe were the first touring band of the evening, and they delivered an energetic set for the ever increasing crowd. The Chelmsford quintet play an upbeat brand of hard rock music, which they themselves describe as ‘Pop-Post-Hardcore’. What makes this band stand out is the vocals - where so many bands in the genre rely on screams or growls mixed in amongst melodic vocals, vocalist Renz Byrne relies on a much higher vocal range, avoiding the screams which polarise opinion against so many people. What it all adds up to is a sound which is undoubtedly defined as ‘Hard Rock’, yet remains very accessible to all listeners. Tonight’s performance was a good showcase of the band’s work, with tracks such as ‘Ziva Killed Houdini’ demonstrating why this band is already seeing airtime on Music TV channels. They have now released 2 EP’s, and as they continue to tour are very likely to grow their fanbase.
Cut from a similar mould, Fei Comodo are another five piece who call Chelmsford home. The finished product is very different though, calling out to a more traditional ‘post-hardcore’ sound of bands such as Thrice or InMe. The band has toured regularly for the past few years but has been very selective with the release of material - only about a dozen tracks have been officially released in a timespan where many bands put out 2 or even 3 albums. However, this means that the songs have been perfected, and the whole set tonight was a polished performance which the crowd thoroughly enjoyed. Their opening track, appropriately named ‘Break The Ice’ is a great showcase of both the musical variety of the band and also of vocalist Marc Halls’ diverse vocal delivery. More recently released songs such as Rival Tides also show that the band is clearly progressing and refining their style, and you’re left thinking that with a few more releases and a couple more tours, Fei Comodo could easily take themselves to bigger venues.
Closing the evening is Reading’s Exit Ten. It feels almost right now to describe the band as veterans of the UK music scene, as they have been playing Nottingham venues for several years and have been together as a group for over a decade. Despite this, the tour has been scheduled to co-incide with just their second full length release, Give Me Infinity, which sees the band taking a slightly mellower, more thoughtful direction with their music. There is perhaps something of a split in the crowd here, some are here for the newer material, whilst some respond far more positively to earlier singles such as ‘Warriors’ and ‘Resume/Ignore’. What cannot be argued, however, is that Exit Ten now have a diverse enough selection of songs to support almost any band from the Rock music spectrum. Already established as a regular touring band (as this mammoth tour demonstrates), and with a live show which always brings energy and a high level of involvement with the crowd, they are probably only one big support slot away from a breakthrough, and one which would be very well deserved.
The Eastpak Antidote Tour - Rock City, Nottingham - 17/11/11
Thursday night saw Rock City play host to one of the Marquee tours in the alternative music spectrum. The Antidote Tour, sponsored by Eastpak, has been running since 2005, and has hosted a wide variety of headliners, from Millencolin to Soilwork. More recent years have focused mainly on Pop and Punk as the headline offerings, with Florida’s A Day To Remember occupying the slot most recently filled by Sum 41 and Alexisonfire. The show had been sold out for weeks, and the queue to the door at Rock City for the somewhat ludicrous 5pm door time still stretched back a mile.
Whilst all the bands tonight were making their first appearance on Rock City’s Main Stage, Living With Lions are the only group gracing Nottingham for the first time. Despite containing members from metalcore bands Misery Signals and A Textbook Tragedy, what follows is straight up Canadian Pop-Punk, sounding more like Fireworks or The Wonder Years. The band worked through their set at a rapid pace, and although they couldn’t quite work the crowd into the same frenzy as the subsequent acts, they received a very positive reaction.
By contrast, by the time Californian Quintet The Ghost Inside made it to the stage, a moshpit covering about half the main floor had already opened up. Opening with recent single ‘Unspoken’, the crowd burst into life with an energy and intensity that didn’t let up until the end of the set. The Ghost Inside play an uptempo brand of Melodic Hardcore, with heavy bass riffs giving way to melodic choruses, interspersed with breakdowns and singalongs from the passionate crowd. Whilst the set was not particularly lengthy, lasting only 25 minutes, the reactions from the crowd left you in no doubt as to the success of the set. The band are returning to the UK next year with one of the biggest names in Metalcore, Parkway Drive, and based on tonight’s evidence, everything is in place for them to be just as successful.
There was no let up in the intensity as August Burns Red continued the evening. Over the past few years the band have established themselves as one of the frontrunners in the American Metalcore scene, but have not toured outside of North America that frequently. Despite this, the band has a very large following in the room, with hundreds of people singing along to both their older tracks and works from their most recent release, ‘Leveler’. In addition, the band has no hesitation in playing some of their more instrumental pieces - whilst these are just as heavy and full of full of aggressive bass lines as their other songs, there is a danger that the lack of vocals could lead to a drop in the energy levels of the crowd, but this isn’t the case. The boys from Pennsylvania worked their way through a lengthy set, showcasing all of their best songs, and by the time they closed out with ‘Back Burner’, they had more than satisfied their existing fans, and no doubt won over dozens of new ones too.
So by the time the lights went down for the main event, it was safe to say that the crowd’s anticipation had been worked up to a fever pitch. And A Day To Remember absolutely delivered. The band’s unique mixture of poppy choruses and breakdowns, known to some as ‘pop-mosh’, has seen the band catapulted from relative obscurity only 4 years ago to one of the most well known acts in the alternative music scene today. The band’s live shows have only added to their reputation, and tonight is no exception, with an energetic, well-choreographed performance accompanied by glitter cannons, smoke machines, toilet rolls and beachballs, all adding up to a visual show as well as an auditory one. The musical performance is flawless, and the vocals from Jeremy McKinnon are a significant improvement on previous performances, which in the past have attracted criticism. The highlight of the set came during the performance of the track ‘Homesick’, where Jeremy climbed into an inflatable, zorb style plastic ball, and proceeded to run on top of the crowd. Throughout the set, the crowd was signing along to every word of every song, and after the band closed out with ‘The Downfall Of Us All’, a very sweaty crowd made their way out of the venue, well satisfied with what they had seen.
This week we have a bumper edition of our rock blog with double the usual gig reviews. Thanks to Robert Moody for all his hard work!
The Artery Foundation Across The Nation Tour - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 24/10/11
The Rescue Rooms played host to a selection of bands on Monday night, all part of the Artery Foundation, a large collection of bands from across the alternative music spectrum. This show offered 4 bands, each one very different to the next, and that was reflected in a good size crowd, with most people turning up mainly to see one or two of the bands on offer. It’s a premise that’s used more in North America than in the UK, but the show was received well.
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! is the grammatically correct printing of this French quintet’s name. Obviously they will win most ‘stupid band names’ competitions that they enter, but they are also rapidly building a fanbase with their lively brand of breakdown-infused pop-punk. At the risk of being cliche, there really is something for everyone here, whether you like heavy bass riffs, screaming vocals, melodic vocals or big singalongs. Despite being the first band of the night (and onstage at 6:30pm, no less), the crowd was very much into them, and their closing song, ‘In Friends We Trust’, was met with a tremendous response from the crowd. Expect to see this band touring regularly into 2012 - if the success of bands like A Day To Remember is anything to go by, these guys are going to be huge.
Abandon All Ships! are up next, and are undoubtedly the most difficult band I’ve ever had to review. The musical offering is unlike anything you’ve ever heard, packed full of Synth, Keyboard and Autotuned vocals, yet still maintaining the standard breakdowns and screams that define the Metalcore genre. They make Asking Alexandria look like Napalm Death by comparison. Couple that with a group of individuals who you’d associate more with the cast of Jersey Shore than a Rock Music show and it all adds up to a unique experience. All I can say is that if bands are judged solely by the crowd response, then Abandon All Ships! are the biggest band of the night. The response to songs such as ‘Geeving’ and ‘Take One Last Breath’ is huge, alternating between large moshpits during the breakdowns and club-style scenes during their Techno interludes. The best review I can leave for this band is to describe them as a ‘Marmite band’ - check them out, see what you think, you’ll either adore them or detest them.
By contrast, Chelsea Grin do not use Synths or Keyboards. They also do not use melodic vocals, and there isn’t much melody. This was 30 minutes of straight-up Deathcore, which almost constant breakdowns, and vocals that alternated entirely between Screams and Bree-Squeals. This was another band that divided the crowd - those at the front and in the mosh pit were hanging on every note, those standing further back looked distinctly disinterested in the whole proceedings. Personally, I struggle to review this band because I just don’t ‘get’ this genre of music. What I can say is that a significant portion of the crowd were clearly in attendance purely for this band, and for that reason alone they cannot be ignored in what appears to be an ever growing genre.
Miss May I closed the night with something altogether more familiar. The band has toured relentlessly over the past couple of years on a number of package tours of this nature, although musically they sit a lot closer to the modern metal bands such as Killswitch Engage and Trivium than many of the bands they have toured with. One thing is clear though, all the touring has shaped the band’s live performance into something spectacular. The vocals are strong, the guitar work is incredibly tight and the drumming is relentless and aggressive. It all adds up to a ferocious set which the remaining crowd responded to very positively. The band ended on a song called ‘Relentless Chaos’, which is an apt description for the band as a whole, and for any fan of metal, metalcore or just heavy music in general, Miss May I come recommend as a band well worth seeing.
Departures/Take Courage/Forester/Borders - The Old Angel, 28/10/11
Another in the growing list of shows put on by Nottingham-based collective ‘Some Dudes’ took place on Friday at The Old Angel, with 4 UK bands taking to the stage. All the bands should be credited for their efforts, playing full sets despite horrendous traffic on the drive up from Falmouth, some 250 miles away, meaning they only arrived shortly before the advertised start time.
Borders opened the evening with a lively Pop Punk performance. The music has a familiar feel and the vocals borrow heavily from the likes of well known bands such as Four Year Strong. Despite this, the South Yorkshire quartet have penned some very original songs, and if they sound as good on CD as they do here, they wouldn’t be out of place on anyone’s summertime roadtrip playlist.
Forester are the next band to take to the stage. These boys from Nottingham have not been playing shows for very long, but despite this they manage to put on an impressive show. Their post-hardcore/old school emo sound harks back to the days of early Brand New, and it’s refreshing to see a new band playing this style, not relying on breakdowns or gimmicks to win the crowd over. The performance is slick, the vocals passionate, and if Forester continue to play these shows they will build up a fanbase very quickly.
Take Courage are up next, and are a complete culture shift from the previous offerings. Their 25 minute performance was fast, aggressive and chaotic, with vocalist Leo unable to stay still for more than 3 seconds, even whilst delivering powerful vocals. The boys from Kent put on a show which demands attention, and this reviewer recommends that you catch them as soon as you get the chance.
The evening was closed off by Scottish group Departures. This melodic hardcore band have been touring regularly in recent months on the back of their Debut ‘When Losing Everything Is Everything You Wanted,’ which mixes fast riffs and passionate vocals. Once again there is no pretence about this band, just honest music played with tons of passion. Whilst Departures can easily be compared to many other bands in the genre, they play with an enthusiasm that cannot be ignored, and we fully expect them to be seen supporting more established bands in the very near future.
In summary, this is about the 5th show I’ve been to promoted by ‘Some Dudes’, and the two constants are passionate, honest bands and friendly, genuine crowds. Any show promoted by them comes recommended, and they are fast becoming one of Nottingham’s treasures.
Violet/Northpaw/Romans - The Maze, 17th October
Notts About Music was in attendance at The Maze once again for an evening of Rock and Metal hosted by BigSmall Promotions - the lure of 5 bands for 4 quid, as always, is hard to resist!
This reviewer had been waiting years to hear it, and upon Laguna Sunrise’s intro finally saw the inevitable - DubstepCore. Like it or not, the 2 genres share many traits, and undoubtedly more bands will incorporate this into their music in the coming months. After this, the band ran through a 5 song set which covered most of the alternative music spectrum, as poppy choruses gave way to metalcore breakdowns and screams. The set was generally enjoyable, although the group will need to work on their live show to stand out amongst the many bands in this very busy genre.
“Let’s clear something up. We don’t think you’re going to like our band.” So proclaims Tom Sivell, lead vocalist of Romans, before they even begin playing. The rather dry sense of humour continues throughout the set - the Kidderminster quartet clearly enjoy what they do, and it shows in both their well polished performance and between song banter. The music itself is lively, upbeat Hard Rock, with Drummer Denny Connolly lending some effective screaming to the main vocals, which you would normally associate with more of an Indie Rock band. It’s an interesting combination, and it works well, and to clear something up, I think the crowd rather liked their band.
Previously reviewed on this website, this Nottingham based Hardcore band have been playing an increased number of shows in recent months promoting their debut EP, Progressions. It is safe to say that the work is paying off, as Armed For A Crisis are now putting on a live show which demands attention. The music is fast paced and intense, but the performances are engaging and polished. It all adds up to a great show, and you get the feeling that these boys are only a couple of support slots away from bigger things.
Northpaw
If this band makes the big time, then you can say without doubt that you heard it here first, as this was Northpaw’s first ever show! Ok, so they’ve been playing shows previously under the name of Forever Wednesday, but we won’t let the facts get in the way of a good story…anyway, this band from Surrey kept the energy of the evening going with a short but explosive set. Vocalist Charlie explored all 4 corners of the venue whilst delivering a ferocious performance, backed up by some well practised performances from the rest of the band.
This Derby based 7 piece have been making waves in the East Midlands scene in recent months, so much so that they are now headlining shows around the country, building up a fanbase. Tonight they were on top form, and if their live performances are always of this standard they will have no trouble achieving this. You will read reviews of this band which will make the lazy comparison to American bands Dance Gavin Dance and Emarosa, in the same way that any female fronted Rock band now gets compared to Paramore. In reality, this band is very different, the riffs are heavier, and the alternating melodic and screaming vocals complement the nature of the music perfectly, rather than being the sole focus. The band manages to pull off some very complex songs really well in a live environment, and it’s clear from tonight that this band is going to be playing larger venues in the near future. See them now before the crowd!
