A
frantic five-gig February is getting off to a frosty start with tonight’s
Inheaven gig; threats of snow showers might have seen this one struck off my
Spring (ha!) Dance Card, but luckily they were only threats, so I once again
had the opportunity to catch up with the “live” shenanigans of a Very Promising
Indeed young troupe, who produced last year’s best debut album with their
eponymous effort, proving Desperate Journalist’s nearest rivals for best
overall CD and most significant musical discovery of 2017 in the process. A
crush collision of sleazy amped-up, punked-up rock’n’roll, elements of shoegaze
and dreampop, subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle!) nods to the post-punk 80’s sonic
landscape, plus great rosebush-festooned stage sets and flowery shirts. What’s
not to like?
I
didn’t like the journey to this one, though; no weather hold-ups, true, but red
lights all the way out of Swindon and horrible roadworks stretching for miles on
the M4 before Reading, saw me pitching up at the handily-placed but expensive
car park around the corner from the venue, at 10 past 8 after a 1 hour 10
journey! To Reading! Yikes! So I arrived at this new venue, a scuzzy
black-painted WMC-style room in an industrial unit (?!), halfway through the
opening band’s set. Local lot Ocean Ruins (for t’was they) were shuffling
through a set of passable grungy slacker rock, including one number entitled
“Love Drunk” which prompted the willowy female vocalist’s dad, stood behind me,
to comment, “not dad drunk… sorry Kate!” to his onstage offspring. Their final
number, “Slow Drive” was their best by far; a slower, more layered dreampop/
shoegaze vibe which hinted at greater potential, albeit with much more practice
needed, if only to iron out the vocalist’s occasional flat notes. Good luck to
‘em, anyway. Up in short order afterwards at 9 were tour support Thyla, a
4-piece led by a full-of-beans petite blonde bombshell in an iridescent short
dress and Docs (nice!), and who seemed to have two distinct styles;
loud-quiet-loud grungy thrash, or a pacier, more dynamic 90’s indie-pop driving
groove with spooky pseudo-goth inflections, recalling Marion or Annie
Christian. Unfortunately, the mix did the vocalist’s voice no favours,
regularly submerging it under the growling guitar thrash, which was a shame as
there was definitely some decent stuff under there. Their penultimate number,
“Tell Each Other Lies” was their best for me, a groovy and more insistent
number with a yelpalong chorus which I enjoyed from the back of the hall,
searching for the sonic sweet spot!
I
took a spot down the front, stage right, and at the appointed hour of 10, Inheaven
came on to juddering feedback from the backing track. Despite their obvious
enthusiasm, the gig took a couple of numbers to bed in, from both a sound
perspective (soaring, tubthumping opener “Bitter Town” and the subsequent “Stupid
Things” both sounding a little thin) and general atmosphere. However, by the
incendiary direct driving drama of “Vultures”, the sound was fuller and more
balanced, and the kids responded to vocalist James Taylor’s request for a
circle pit during the Stooges proto-punk strut of “World On Fire”, a mosh
continuing thereafter. It wasn’t all thrash and bash, however; a slower “Dream
Of Me” saw a sway-along pit, “Drift” overlaid its’ bluesy scuzz with a haunting
dreampop choral hook, and “Velvet” featured a dreamy melody with the dual
male/female vocals from James and bassist, Swindon’s own Chloe Little, drifting
hazily over like an eerie sea mist.
A
riff-tastic “Treats” roared the mosh back into pulsating life, with Chloe’s
combative verse rap leading to a roaring, American Hi-Fi-like chorus, and all
too soon set finale “Regeneration” arrived, a terrace-chant flag waver looking
for a stadium to fill, which saw James plus guitar launch into the frantic
mosh, almost taking a couple of panels out of the low ceiling in the process! A
fitting end to another splendid set, Inheaven continuing to walk the walk “live”
with another powerful, committed and often incendiary performance.
A
quick hug and chat with Chloe afterwards, who remembered me from previous gigs,
as we continued our Bristol conversation about this very promising but clearly
ambitious band looking to take the step up to bigger venues soon. “This time
next year,” she promised, my departing remark being, “put me on the guest list
then!” to her affirmative response. I’ll hold you to that, girl! Quick
greetings with James on the way out, before I hit the chilly road to get home
before it got too treacherous underfoot (or under wheel, as it were). No
matter, it might have been chilly outside, but tonight Inheaven certainly
brought the heat!
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