Harry Shiels
Having only released three albums between 1999 and 2022, it’s safe to say a few in the room would be familiar with the French openers, Gros Mené. Clearly the minds behind AdP were big fans of these underground mainstays, bringing them along for their first-ever UK shows. Given the abject lunacy of tonight’s headliners, one might argue that they’re playing it safe with a rather direct, hard-hitting, bluesy stoner rock act to please a bunch, but it’s hard to dismiss the strength of the grooves over the course of the thirty-minute and six-song introduction to Gros Mené. The band would fit right at home on the bill for something like Desertfest, laying deep, hard rock stoner riffs with plenty of emotive psychedelic tinged solos and driving rhythms paired with chunky riffs. The band are also treated to the benefit of crystal clear sound and an open audience who are vibing with the French three piece even though it may not be what they expected. Barrelling through a handful of cuts from their three albums and using sparse time for thank yous for the warm welcome, it’s a tight, concise and hard hitting thirty minutes of a longstanding hidden gem of the French rock scene.
There is a notable atmosphere of anticipation in the air as time dwindles towards Angine De Poitrine taking their place onstage. Their last UK tour was announced well before the band’s viral boom and, by all accounts, feels intimate compared to these follow-up dates announced shortly after the end of said run. The (main) room of The Prospect Building is packed from side to side, near seven times the size of the comparatively cosy Strange Brew the band sold out in April. The crowd is made up of a cavalcade of alternative fringes from Electric Wizard and Dying Fetus to Devin Townsend and Porcupine Tree to Glastonbury lineup crewnecks sprinkled amidst the sea of polka-dotted clothing. Gen Alpha TikTok obsessive rubbing shoulders with Bristols math rock faithful, scores of Radio 6 dads and art rock wine sippers; the point being, the eclectic and diverse range of alternative folk here to commune with otherworldly beings. Before long Khn and Klek take their places to deafening cheers, and the band take their time getting comfy and setting up. It ends up being a bit anticlimactic in a rather humorous, understated and lackadaisical start to the set, as if the band are blissfully floating along without a care in the universe as the high powered rockets on their backs throttle onwards, propelling them higher.
An eccentric and entertaining start before a note is even played, communicating with the crowd without saying an actual word. Finally, the lights dim, the large LED screen springs to life emblazoned with monochromatic polka dots, and the duo shoot into the punchy slow build of Vol 2 closer, ‘Angor’. The psychedelic looping and layering become more impressive as a live spectacle, the sound is pristine, and the lighting is kept simple to keep the focus on the delicate intricacies of the tracks as they are built and displayed. Pockets of the crowd across the room, especially in front and centre, don’t stop their enjoyment over the course of the headline set; however, most seem to be in a state of polite enjoyment, receiving what can only be described as a math/art rock masterclass with polite head nodding, a wave of phones in the air and some scattered dancing. It’s hard to quantify the realities of drawing a more mainstream crowd who haven’t experienced a band of this genre before, perhaps, but it is notable. Not to say people aren’t enjoying themselves, ‘Yor Zarad’ increasing the tempo combined with the ever-impressive opening inspires more of a receptive groove to the crowd, but there is a sense some don’t quite know what to make of the band’s wider material.
The spectacle is a clear draw though, becoming hard not to get hypnotised watching both musicians. Klek’s nose flopping about as they play the intricate polyrhythms and syncopated hits or the strings of hair framing the intricate melodic layering of the delicate guitar work from Khn. Some inflatables are bobbing around for ‘Tamebsz’; however, the first big crowd reaction lands with the stellar viral hooks of ‘Mata Zyklek’. Obviously the biggest crowd reaction of the night so far goes to one of the viral hits, but it’s nice as the crowd finally shed their skin and encouraged some proper movement, seeing heads bobbing and dancing spread like a virus across the floor. Angine De Poitrine are stellar, truly great musicians and performers, having everything locked down tight as all hell, from their onstage mannerisms and interactions through to the setlist curation. ‘Ababa Hotel’ makes for a well earned funk tinged break and hammers home the clarity and crispness to the different textures of the band’s sound, with the visual presentation hitting a similar simple and effective approach, combining the subtly animated polka dots on screen and the lighting to accentuate the larger than life characters performing.
Save the best for last, as they always say; the room is elated and breaks into a noticeable upswing of energy; maybe it finally clicked, maybe they finally found the time to pull their jaws from the floor as the third to last track and viral sensation ‘Sarniezz’ is brought to the table. Following with equally adored ‘Fabienk’, an expected sea of phones joins the triangles moving up and down as the band communes with the crowd via squatting and gobbledygook vocal stims. The crowd are more than happy to empty what’s left in the tank for the psychedelic drive of set closer and fan favourite ‘Sherpa’, the band elongating and playing up the deep hypnotising grooves to send the audience home elated and stunned. It’s hard to describe the experience of seeing Angine De Poitrine as their viral power continues to charge forth, seeming unstoppable. However, when all is said and done, they live up to the hype and then some. Clearly talented performers, as both musicians and artists, whether the viral boom lasts or not, the band will not go down with it. Most important, though, is their ability to unite a wide range of music lovers across genres and age groups, all under the umbrella of supporting something unique, creative, talented and ultimately human artistic expression.
