First up, kudos to Bloc+, what’s not to love about this bar? The whole ethics around the place are fantastic, its whole reason for being, the food (amazing!), the welcoming atmosphere, and especially from tonight’s perspective, its support of grassroots music.
It was with music in mind I was in attendance tonight, mainly, I have to say, to see Sacred Noise, but as someone who soaks up music like a sponge, I was interested to hear Watters having done a bit of research when I’d seen who Sacred Noise were playing with.
This was live gig number four for Sacred Noise, and having been to their debut live performance in the self same venue earlier in the year, I was looking forward to seeing them again.
Considering this was only their fourth gig, the progression since the last time I saw them was quite something. They were a joy to behold on that first outing, but this time around, they were even tighter, slicker with a totally mesmerising and rounded performance.
The band have a huge sound, more than a match for the intimate surroundings of Bloc+. Sam and Robbie, on bass and drums respectively, are a force to be reckoned with, an absolutely solid performance throughout providing the firm foundations for the bands sound.
Their 8 song set gave anyone that hadn’t seen the band before a brilliant overview of their sound and inspirations. With a firm base in classic rock, they add their own elements drawn from grungy desert rock, punk and 90s alt rock. Anna casting a spell with her guitar wrangling and sophisticated riffing, while Kirstin is an engaging front woman, especially during the likes of one of the set highlights, Baby Doll, donning a sinisterly creepy baby mask as she writhes around.
The aforementioned Baby Doll is one of the set highlights as Kirstin gyrates around the stage with a Siouxsie like feel to the song and theatrics. Penultimate track Home gives off Janes Addiction vibes with its intense groove while set closer, single Part of Me, with it’s effective staccato guitars, channels the spirit of Cranberries and the late Dolores O’Riordan and rounds off their excellent set perfectly.
Watters probably isn’t the sort of gig I would normally go to, but I throughly enjoyed every minute of his set. Kind of like The Streets meets Slowthai with musing and rhymings about real life. a comparison which is borne out by the two final tracks, covers of both The Streets and Slowthai, the latter of which has him joined by three quarters of Sacred Noise for a forceful set closer.
Sacred Noise have a couple of top support slots coming up later in the year in The Hug and Pint, first up next month with Lemon Drink. I’ll be there, will you?
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