Live Review: Haggard Cat and Graphic Nature | The Grace, London | 08/09/21
After 18 months of cancellations and delays, lost supports from Mountain Caller and a last minute drop out due to illness from Ithaca, it has felt for most bands that all tours were cursed. Finally though, Haggard Cat stepped onstage at The Grace with support from Graphic Nature.
Graphic Nature
Five piece Graphic Nature, the entrée for tonight, rolled out onto The Grace’s tiny stage which was clearly not enough space for them or their rambunctious sound they were about to deliver. Every member in black hoodies, looking particularly menacing, stepped up to the plate with fistfuls of energy at such short notice filling in for the dearly missed Ithaca. Their vocalist, Harvey, stomped around the open dance floor, pushing for a reaction from the crowd, but somewhat disappointingly the audience seemed less than enthusiastic. But rightfully as Harvey points out ‘It’s OK to like other types of music’. Their fierce delivery of heavily leaning nu-metal stylings of the likes of Slipknot, samples and all, in their defence pricked some ears in the room and probably deserved a better reaction. Having recently signed to Rude Records and releasing a handful of singles it would definitely be worth keeping an eye out for this quintet.
Score: 7/10
Haggard Cat
Haggard Cat, ready to rock ‘n’ roll, the energy clearly bubbling away after a packed out hometown show in Nottingham the night before. Matt and Tom were ready to unleash not only tracks from their Cheer Up EP but finally display more of their 2020 album ‘Common Sense Holiday’. So much energy clearly packed in Tom’s right leg that within seconds of opening song ‘First Words’ he hilariously managed to break his bass drum pedal. But it’s been a year and half so nothing was going to break their stride. Tom launching himself over the kit and through a door in search of hardware as Matt just kept riffing away. This the perfect example of everything this duo are about, humour and intensity. A smile plastered across every face in the room from start to finish.
Related: Haggard Cat – Cheer Up | EP Review
The energy bubble finally exploded as they launched into an array of songs from last year’s highly rated album and their new EP. Pretty much non-stop flailing from both, creating a presence bands of four members would struggle to do. Matt’s legs appearing on top of drums and speakers one moment. His body diving into the crowd and onto the floor in another. After the cooler start to the evening Matt will not let up with the audience, riling them up with a back and forth between songs.
Coming off their label and going it alone seems to have done the pairing a world of good. They are in control of their art and have less of a worry about what other’s think of their antics (not that they ever have). Clearly having more fun than ever before sharing a laugh over Tom’s one and only vocal ‘It’s genius!’ whilst playing ‘Quit Your Jobs’. They are a non-stop relentless force to behold live, a force that eventually ends up with a depleted drum kit. The snare drum held triumphantly aloft to deserved applause. The boys are back and you should catch them in a sweaty room the next chance you get.
Score: 9/10