LIVE REVIEW: Darlia @ Thekla, Bristol 26/09/14

Written for Middle Boop Mag: http://www.middleboopmag.com/music/live/live-review-darlia-thekla-bristol-260914

Blackpool trio Darlia have been touted “The most exciting new guitar band in the UK” by various, high-profile media platforms. Trouble is, these grandiose statements are thrown around so loosely these days that they don’t carry nearly enough clout as they should. That said, Darlia are a very important band right now, their gig at Thekla provided an insight into why, and to the steady momentum that Darlia have built up nationwide.

Front man Nathan Day’s dead bleached hair could be spotted under his black fedora, his heavily charcoaled eyes oozing confidence and almost derisory nonchalance toward the on looking crowd - who in stark contrast were a sweaty mangled mass of anticipation, hysteria and post-teen angst.

It really is quite hard to find a new band to believe in, to invest in and to obsess over – a lot of us are left feeling quite un-stimulated by today’s guitar music. It seems that new bands are completely transient - as the underlying ‘money making’ aim from their labels seems to stifle and dilute, making sure that they don’t lean too far into a particular sound, as to not alienate anyone who might come under the ‘alternative music market’ umbrella that they're trying to engage. Darlia has somehow managed to cling onto a strong sense of identity, with their dark lyrics and 90’s grunge bravado.

What Darlia upheld throughout the gig was an unmistakable confidence in what they were doing. Storming through their string of absolute blinding tracks including ‘Dear Diary’, ‘Candyman’ and ‘Queen of Hearts’, drummer Jack Bentham was topless and gleaming with sweat, Day strutted around the stage with an air of pure arrogance whilst guitarist Dave Williams seemed almost turned on by the sound of his own guitar. It was dirty. It was conceited. It was absolutely perfect.

LIVE REVIEW: Everything Eveything @ Thekla, Bristol 09/02/13

Originally published at Middle Boop Mag: http://www.middleboopmag.com/music/live/live-everything-everything-thekla-bristol-90213

Everything Everything have finally cemented themselves within the currently thriving indie/electro popular music scene with their extraordinary follow up to their 2010 debut Man Alive. With Arc in tow, the world is at this bands feet.

 It must have been surreal for the quartet, going from major support slots at arenas with the likes of Muse and Snow Patrol, back down to academies and smaller music venues including Thekla Bristol, which is a music venue parked on the river in the artsey and cultural city of Bristol.

This is however, a wise choice and one they have publically spoken about being more comfortable with. The dingey and intimate setting did wonders for them, keeping their image, sound and the music’s soul intact. For a sold out show, as part of a sold out tour, the venue didn’t seem anywhere near capacity. For huge fans of the band, this would no doubt have been a real treat.

Starting with their current single ‘Kemosabe’ and being greeted with what could only be described as a wave of hype and elation from the audience. They sounded as they do on record, even down to the placements and delivery of the vocals, it was wonderful to behold these four young northern lads doing so bloody well for themselves. The audience recited every line, even from Arc’s lesser-heard album tracks.

They played a well-placed set consisting of their debut and second album, each track going down an absolute storm with the excitable crowd. The set lasted 75 minutes, and was short, neat and sweet. They did however fail to play their monster track ‘Final Form’ and during their en-core, the crowd screamed for it, but it was to no avail. They finished with ‘Don’t Try’ an absolute blinder from their current album. As they left the stage, it was clear to see the audience hadn’t quite had their Everything Everything thirst anywhere near quenched.