Adam Vallely
Openers The Pleasure Dome of Bristol promptly blew away any grey moods with their rumbling, bass heavy, rhythmic punk. A high energy, almost non-stop thirty minute set giving the Saturday night a kick in rear. Thunderous tracks such as singles ‘Pretty Picture’ and 2020’s ‘This Room Is For Gold And There Is No Use For It’ catching the attention of the fans prompt enough to turn up at doors. Echoes of fellow Bristolians IDLES and a touch of Surfer Rosa era Pixies, this quartet are worth keeping an eye on. Let’s hope for a full length sooner rather than later.
London based ‘rock and roll’ band, Lyoness stepped up next. As with the openers they are in their formative years as an outfit, yet they boast a line-up that includes former members of Gallows and Wonk Unit. Vocalist Gillian Carter and co are no greenhorns when it comes to performing and it shows. Already tight knit, they intertwine punk with crunching come soaring guitars and beautiful vocals to deliver a solid set. Having already got plays on mainstream radio Lyoness are worth noting for future too.
CLT DRP, electro-punk noise-niks from Brighton land on stage as main support, but quite simply they almost steal the night from the headliners. Playing an array of tracks from last year’s highly rated ‘Without the Eyes’ they literally turn heads in the ever-filling room. Some clearly were not aware of the force of this trio. Vocalist, Annie Dorrett’s, powerful, honest, and direct delivery bringing the focus of the whole room centre stage. Scott Reynold’s mastery with guitar and an array of effects as mesmerising as the first time you see him. They also treat the now locked in crowd with a couple of new bolts of electric energy in new tracks. New material? Yes please!
After such high quality from their supports which was rightfully thanked by FRAUDS this was ultimately their night to shine. Here to celebrate a day after their sophomore album Long Spoons entered the world; they came to bring a show in more ways than one. Saturday night is an evening for entertainment and Chris & Mikey bring this in spades. Dressed head to toe in white they enact a crowd-pleasing presentation of post-punk musical delights.
Related: FRAUDS – Long Spoons | Album Review
Singles ‘Money Honey’ and ‘Copenhagen’ already entrenched in their set bringing cheers and momentary singalongs from some, the joy and connection they bring is pure pleasure. New tracks ‘Delorian’ and ‘Melchett’ bring the night to life with hip swaggering grooves and a punch. Drummer Chris’ vocal delivery is on point, grabbing the mic when he doesn’t have to thwack the cans. They are both ‘full of beans’ as one of their lyrics exclaims. Mikey is in full actor mode, strutting across the stage and at one point disappearing momentarily only to reappear with a huge golden wing-like cape bringing barrels of laughs from the audience. This set is an almost perfect advert for the new LP. But yet, we were again treated to new material tonight with ’Fistpump A Hater’ and closer ‘Takes One To Know One’. Maybe a sniff of album three on the far horizon?
With Mikey moving away soon though this sadly may be the last time we see them on stage for a while so hopefully the night was savoured by all because it is rare to find a band that can deliver musically and make you smile for that hour and long into the night after. Pure joy and truly captivating.