Live Review: Lonely The Brave, VLMV, Sometimes | The Fleece, Bristol | 22/09/22
Exactly 21 months after Lonely The Brave unveiled their third record The Hope List, the alt-rock heroes finally return to the west country for a capacity show at the pillared sanctuary of live music at is The Fleece.
Sometimes
Given the band’s history and personnel, those in the know would fully expect the gnarled Bristol alt-grungers Sometimes to be opening proceedings tonight; after all, a member of tonight’s headline act helped found the band. But regardless of this and the fact that their current lineup boats names from Black Foxxes and Meadowlark, Sometimes are far more than their noteworthy credentials. Airing a rustic sound drawing both from the likes of jaded grunge, contemporary emo and shoegaze, the Bristolian quartet are musically tight yet thematically fluid as they navigate their way across the musical spectrum, harkening thoughts of the likes of Wallflower, Daiseyhead and Basement as they breeze through their short yet sweet set.
There’s a sense of dynamism in their sound in regards to this – something highlighted with the likes of ‘Stay Young’ and ‘That’s Just Life – but what makes this even more paramount is the fact that this is the only the band’s second ever life performance. Of course, given the group’s membership one would expect a certain level of showmanship, but the fact that Sometimes have already established such a palpable level of dynamics and chemistry within both their sound and live show in such a short span is almost unprecedented. There’s no doubt that this band have some serious spoils awaiting for them in the near future if this show is anything to go by.
Score: 8/10
VLMV
The one-man project VLMV – pronounced ‘alma’ for those undoubtedly questioning – are certainly a bit of a contrast to the punchy and anthemic nature of their touring partners. Select tracks from the aforementioned The Hope List may have seen Lonely The Brave tentatively dipping their toes into the translucent waters of post-rock, but in contrast VLMV bathes deep within it’s bottomless depths, a fact he highlights wonderfully tonight.
Ethereal in sound and delicate in delivery, this set see’s VLMV delivering ambient yet accumulating post-rock that crescendos with looping textures, with movements from his recent LP Sing With Abandon sounding beautiful even within this cavernous environment. It’s remarkable how VLMV is able to capture the interrupted attention of this now capacity room armed with just a guitar, a set of keys and an array of pedals, with tracks such as ‘For Empire’, ‘There Are Mountains Underneath Us’ and ‘The Lighthouse’ harkening thoughts of the aura lit and frost tipped elegance of Iceland post-rock pioneers Sigur Rós and Múm. Sadly, a range of sound issues do ultimately plague this set – from ghostly feedback to uncooperative pedals – but such issues don’t distract one from the inherent beauty and elegance inherent to VLMV’s sound. If anything, such technical difficulties only highlight the human emotion that lies at the crux of his work, something seemingly appreciated and acknowledged by the hundreds gathered amongst the pillars of The Fleece this evening.
Score: 8/10
Lonely The Brave
Seeing how tonight is the penultimate date of Lonely The Brave’s first full tour since the pandemic – and their first with Jack Bennet, formerly of Grumble Bee, manning the helm – one would be forgiven if fatigue where to be visible on the faces of tonight’s headliner. However, Lonely The Brave seem more reinvigorated then ever before. Launching into ‘Keeper’ prior to ‘Black Mire’ and ‘Distant Light’, the band appear to firing on all five of their cylinders, putting their all into animating the anthemic qualities that make these tracks so brilliant.
The aforementioned Bennet is bouncy and ceaselessly energetic than ever before, something that stands as a counterpoint to his effortlessly composed vocal work. As he nails his lines on the likes of ‘Bound’ and clear fan-favourite ‘Trick Of The Light’, it’s impossible not to feel energised by his own boundless stamina. If anything, his ceaselessly spirited and playful behaviour only adds additional vitality to the tracks being performed tonight, with even the more musically timid ‘Deserter’ seeing him scaling up the pillars that this venue is infamous for. Granted though, this manic and delivery does ultimately contrast with some of the band’s more serene work. Whilst the soaring ‘Chasing Knives’ and the cathartic ‘The Blue, The Green’ do greatly benefit from his boundless energy and sound simply colossal tonight, the de facto ballad of ‘Your Heavy Heart’ does sound at odds with itself when performed with such fidgety ardor, with such vim slightly compromising the composure of the track. Still, this is only a minor issue in the grand scheme of the set; for the majority, Lonely The Brave sound revitalised tonight, a fact made incredibly paramount with a performance of The Day’s War’s ‘Backroads’, a track that tonight sounds life-affirming as it did the day it was originally released.
Regardless, one of the most fulfilling aspects of this set comes with Lonely The Brave’s full embracement of the fanbase that has supported them through thick and thin over the years. Tonight’s show as a whole feels akin to a hearty thank you to their unwavering following that has backed them, a fact that comes physically real when they pull super-fans Kris and James on stage in celebration for their 50th and 80th respective times seeing the band. It’s a simple gesture, but one authentic and one that clearly means the world to both the fanatics in question and the greater community gathered here. In an age where many acts opt to erect barriers between them and the fanbases that keeps them afloat, it’s a moment that’s certainly rememberable and highlights the inherent sincerity that serves as the crux of the group’s identity. With this in mind, and the as the band close out the evening with ‘Only You Say It’ and the uplifting ‘Black Saucers’, it’s hard to envision what summits the community will propel Lonely The Brave onto after this clearly successful tour.
Score: 8/10