Its only 12 and Camden is heaving already. A load of plant
based food in Camden Market thanks to the heavenly Seitan, a rattle through the
2nd hand record shops, a couple of pints to start the day off and
we’re already back in the Electric Ballroom watching Elephant Tree. The last
time I saw Elephant Tree in Sheffield it was LOUD. Every time I’ve seen them
its loud but last time had my ears ringing for a couple of days. Peter’s low
end bass shakes the foundations as always and Jack’s guitar sound mixed with
both their vocal harmonies floors me every time. As a 4 piece now everything
sounds even a bigger and we are treated to a few new songs from their
(hopefully) imminent new record. They know how to work the crowd, even when its
2pm and even this early the Ballrooms sound system has had a complete workout.
The first trip of the day to The Black Heart is to see
Boston’s own Worshipper. With a new record “Light in the Wire” dropping, again
via Tee Pee Records, they hit you with classic sounding heavy rock. Lots of
riffs, twin guitar action and some really catchy hooks. Before this I wasn’t
too familiar with what Worshipper had to offer but what I’ve seen here is more
than enough to convince me. I’m sure I won’t be the only one after the last 45
minutes.
Staying in The Black Heart, Psychlona hit the stage and they
are loving it. “Mojo Rising” dropped last year to critical acclaim and I can
see 2019 being a big year from Bradford’s finest. It doesn’t take long for a
variety of Yorkshire reprobates in the crowd to start shouting out various
Yorkshire based towns they’re from. I probably should have started a Redcar
chant, but maybe not! Back to the music, they hit you with a driving blues
based stoner rock channelling the likes of Fu Manchu, Clutch and a bit of Kyuss,
all with a northern twist. They look right at home in the Ripple family.
Back in the Electric Ballroom Monkey3 look to be having a
few issues with their equipment. Concerned faces and a stage full of people
keep trying to get the keyboards working but alas the lights go on and the band
announce that they are unable to perform thanks to Easyjet (badly) mishandling
their keyboards. Holding it up for all to see, one keyboard must have lost half
its keys in transit. The band are really pissed and the crowd can see this. We
all applaud in gratitude knowing they’ll be back next time.
Stoned Jesus always seem to be touring somewhere around the
globe but we don’t see them enough in the UK, hence the large turnout. On a
bigger stage they really impressed me last year at the HRH Stoner Vs Doom
festival, and it didn’t take them long to slip straight back into that groove.
For 3 dudes they make one hell of a noise and the songs have that classic rock
structure that keep rolling along. As
the set roles on Igor takes a seat to start the acoustics of the epic anthem “I
am the Mountain” and the next 15 minutes show Stoned Jesus at their finest. The
song is one of those festival moments that everyone in the room will not
forget. Absolutely flawless.
Apart from a trip to the bar, I’m not losing my good space
for Kadavar. Berlin’s finest retro rockers are a band that never fail to
disappoint. Their performance at the inaugural Desertfest still goes down in
legend with the bouncers literally unscrewing the drum heads and unplugging the
speakers whilst the band played on. As always the drums are set up at the front
of the stage, guitars are plugged in, waste coats go on and away we go. A full hour’s
trip going back in time with songs such as “Black Sun”, “Into the Wormhole” and
“Die Baby Die” played to perfection. Dragon and Tiger form a ferocious rhythm
section that doesn’t let up once, whilst Lupus takes us on several mystical
guitar journeys. Roll on a new record.
Saturday’s festivities would end in The Black Heart,
starting with Salem’s Bend. The 70’s LA Rockers have been making a name for
themselves of late and with the imminent release of “Supercluster” on Ripple
Music, what they played tonight showed we are in for a treat. The heavy fuzzy
sound shines through and there’s a 70’s rock feel to it, but live I’m also
feeling some Hawkwind and some early Priest coming through when the cymbals
start crashing and the riffs start cutting in. I like the way their songs dip a
toe into a few different genres but don’t stray too far from their original
path. I’m looking forward to the LP.
We Hunt Buffalo finish off the night in a very hot rammed
full Black Heart. I do though manage to get right next to the stage, and I
didn’t move until it was over. We get lots and lots of big heavy rock, fuzzy
throughout, psychedelic sometimes but always grooving with big riffs. From the
start you can see the band are loving the crowd as much as the crowd are loving
the band. There’s quite a bit of “Head Smashed In” being played with a load of
requests being shouted by the drunk punters. The band have toured a lot over
the last couple of years and it really shows as they’re really tight as a unit.
A band that receives many fist pumps!
Two really good days done with tomorrow looking oh so
special. I just need to know how to run from The Roundhouse to The Underworld
and back in 30 mins to catch Naxatras?!?
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