Live Review
Coves + Lusts + Goodbye The Sunset
The Louisiana, Bristol
March 4 2015
Words/Photos: Pollyanna Sheehan
Leamington Spa duo Coves kick off the first night of their own UK headline tour in support of their forthcoming EP ‘Spectrum', with a visit to Bristol.
Before they take over The Louisiana's stage, the evening opens with local alt-pop three-piece Goodbye The Sunset. Until recently the lads were actually a four-piece; the sudden departure of their drummer rendering their sound tonight a little less full than it otherwise would have been obviously. Still, they seem determined to not let this little hiccup stall their progress, and valiantly battle through the set, appearing grateful to the few members of the crowd that had made their way upstairs to watch them perform.
A larger crowd are gathered in to watch the second act of the evening, the Leicester brothers Andy and James Stone, trading as Lusts. A recent name and one whose 80s pop-rock-inspired debut single ‘Temptation’ has been earning them a buzz around the online blogosphere. Combining distinctive vocals with synths and grungy guitar riffs, these contrast nicely with the more 'pop' elements the pair offer. Their short, energetic set demonstrated how this duo has already earned themselves comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen and Joy Division.
Without much of an introduction, Coves took to the stage and began their set with ‘Last Desire’ and ‘Fall Out Of Love’ - both of which are playful tracks that feature on their debut album. Tonight the usual two-piece affair of John Ridgard and Beck Wood whose iconic vocal fronts the band, are joined by a bassist and drummer, who rather impressively, remains standing for the duration of the set. But it is Wood and Ridgard when command attention, delivering a high-energy, all-singing all-dancing performance.
Songs such as ‘Fall Out Of Love’, with its rhythmic drumming, upbeat Western style guitar interjections and divinely interesting bass-lines, set with Wood’s dark and often chant-like vocal, fill the room with sound.
An incredible performance of ‘Beatings’ features more of their lucid Western style guitar chords and lively drumming. Also in the set mix were new songs such as 'Stormy', and the lead track from their upcoming EP ‘Shot To The Wall’, which was delight to hear live, bursting as it was with infectious guitar riffs.
Coves close the evening with two songs from their debut album: obvious crowd favourite ‘Wake Up' has enough momentum to keep the audience dancing until the very last notes; while ‘No Ladder’'s percussive intro and incredible rhythmic guitar section and Wood's use of various effects, including a megaphone, to distort her vocals, made for the perfect end as its dreaminess and psychedelic nature washed over the crowd, who erupted into a huge applause at the end if what was an utterly captivating show from start to finish.
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