After weeks of globe trotting, away from my comfort zone of gigs and blogs, it was wonderful to be back with HeartRock Live at The Dog and Parrot.
First up was an acoustic set by the (not so) fashionably late Harry Smith, with every song being introduced by a quirky back story and a "Sorry if I f*ck up guys". The indie lad next door performed a mixture of original songs and covers of The 1975, Lana Del Ray and Catfish and the Bottlemen. My only criticism of his set was that he did cover 'Kathleen' and 'Cocoon' by Catfish. 'Cocoon' was by far the better cover and I would advise to just stick to that one. Smith is at his best when he incorporates bluesy undertones and riffs to his music, best shown in his cover of 'West Coast', or the quaint lyrics of his original songs. The line: 'And I could see you falling for me, through sticks and stones and the apologies' is simply charming live.
Next was the London based band, Immortal Machinery. A fusion of bold bass, punchy guitar, strong beats and a vocalist that resembled an Elvis impersonator singing heavy(ish) rock. The trio performed with immense enthusiasm and etiquette - asking the room to give Smith a second round of applause before they started. Unfortunately, some of their lyrics were clumsy or cringe worthy, but could be easily fixed with a quick redrafting session.
Headlining the night was Altrostratus - playing their last gig for a while due to one of the members traveling in New Zealand for a year. When I heard that they were incredibly loud with no singer, my heart sank a little. I envisaged half an hour of purgatory. However, to my absolute delight, I was completely wrong. Their sound is undeniably loud, but is fuelled by intricate bass lines and impressive riffs, opposed to overworked amplifiers. Not having a vocalist actually worked in the band's favour. The stereotypical vocals of their genre tend to alienate bands from wider audiences, as it is an acquired taste. But for Altrostratus, this isn't and issue and the group's technical flair is made even more apparent.
To see more amazing gigs and news from HeartRock follow/visit:
First up was an acoustic set by the (not so) fashionably late Harry Smith, with every song being introduced by a quirky back story and a "Sorry if I f*ck up guys". The indie lad next door performed a mixture of original songs and covers of The 1975, Lana Del Ray and Catfish and the Bottlemen. My only criticism of his set was that he did cover 'Kathleen' and 'Cocoon' by Catfish. 'Cocoon' was by far the better cover and I would advise to just stick to that one. Smith is at his best when he incorporates bluesy undertones and riffs to his music, best shown in his cover of 'West Coast', or the quaint lyrics of his original songs. The line: 'And I could see you falling for me, through sticks and stones and the apologies' is simply charming live.
Next was the London based band, Immortal Machinery. A fusion of bold bass, punchy guitar, strong beats and a vocalist that resembled an Elvis impersonator singing heavy(ish) rock. The trio performed with immense enthusiasm and etiquette - asking the room to give Smith a second round of applause before they started. Unfortunately, some of their lyrics were clumsy or cringe worthy, but could be easily fixed with a quick redrafting session.
Headlining the night was Altrostratus - playing their last gig for a while due to one of the members traveling in New Zealand for a year. When I heard that they were incredibly loud with no singer, my heart sank a little. I envisaged half an hour of purgatory. However, to my absolute delight, I was completely wrong. Their sound is undeniably loud, but is fuelled by intricate bass lines and impressive riffs, opposed to overworked amplifiers. Not having a vocalist actually worked in the band's favour. The stereotypical vocals of their genre tend to alienate bands from wider audiences, as it is an acquired taste. But for Altrostratus, this isn't and issue and the group's technical flair is made even more apparent.
To see more amazing gigs and news from HeartRock follow/visit:
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