As the evenings draw in, dim the lights, and turn on the Lanterns on the Lake….
The solo voice of Hazel Wilde starts the night, followed by her keyboards, then Sarah Kemp’s violin, followed by Paul Gregory’s guitar, also played with a violin bow. Beautiful…and then like a folkrock Mogwai, they crash into a much darker end, building to a crescendo with Adam sawing away with his bow, then attacking the drum kit…at times up to 4 people hit the drums…it’s a schizophrenic performance, plaintive and wild, polished and raw. It conjures up coastal images from their native Newcastle, sounds echoing in the mist, seas gentle then storm-lashed, tides turning…Ships in the Rain is a song title that sums up much of their mood.
Many of the songs are from new album Until the Colours Run. It’s similar to their first, Gracious Tide, Take Me Home, but there have been some line-up changes, and the sound is perhaps darker, more orchestral. Last year at a festival they seemed a bit ‘light’ to me, tonight it’s much stronger. They now get played on Radio 4 as well as 6 Music, so they must be moving in the right direction.
The well-deserved encore also starts solo, then everyone joins in on the new album’s title track, and they all go wild for I Love You Sleepy Head from the first one.
Local support the Holden Girls showed promise if they develop beyond the obvious Joy Division influences. They really need a dark subterranean club at midnight to play in. Their EP is good though.
On a related topic, this is the second seated gig I have been to in a week. OK, as I approach middle age it can be nice to rest the body after a hard day punching keys and writing stuff – but most of our entertainment these days is experienced in a seated position. Gigs should be different, with a live interaction between the bands and audience. It is really hard for bands to drum up an atmosphere in places like theatres. Bring back the Bill Haley Teds, and rip up those seats! Discuss…
@KevinHand3
