Live Review :: TIBET + White Room + FLING + Lunar Quiet :: The Finsbury, London - Oct 20 2016

Live Review

TIBET + White Room + FLING + Lunar Quiet

The Finsbury, London

October 20 2016

Words: Linn Branson

Little Indie's first effort in curating a live show (in conjunction with promoter Lost In The Manor) went off with plenty of high spirits, over-running sets, superb artists and with three of the acts putting half-naked band members on display (is this a new thing?), not that any of us were complaining.

Lunar Quiet /photo: Linn Branson

Brighton's intense Lunar Quiet - though not so quiet in delivery, as more than one person was to comment, at least twice preceded by the question: "who are they?" The quartet provide some loud and intoxicating sounds, taking the post-punk tautness to work in with My Bloody Valentine styled reverbed distortion, to create some epic psych-noise soundwaves as they move through their six songs including 'Endless Migraine' and 'Ambien' - two of their most compelling works to date. A band still growing in terms of live outings, though perhaps not on the decibel side!

FLING / photo: Kenny Davies

FLING change the atmosphere and pace completely, with the Bradford four-piece having expanded to six members tonight bringing infectiously danceable tunes to The Finsbury room and plenty of banter and bonhomie. Kicking off with 'Welcome To The City', their tale of an alien coming to visit Bradford, there's some definite attitude and panache 18-year-old vocalist Charles McSorley - the first of the night to play bare-chested (and in this case, with trousers unfastened in addition, that left the organisers hoping they also weren't also to be shed before the end of the set!) - and as they get people dancing it's easy to see their glam Bowie and Bolan influences. Our spies told us that band members were doing some selling of themselves to the drinkers in the bar beforehand, which certainly paid off in terms of pulling a crowd in. For only their second London date, FLING drew a good sized and responsive audience.

White Room / photo: Kenny Davies

If White Room happen to have escaped your attention thus far, they probably won't for much longer. Steadily growing through their live outings and festival appearances this year, they are a band being much quietly talked about. They draw in a crowd who seem largely familiar with their psych guitar sound and Stone Roses/Verve-like, part Britpop, part psychedelia, presence. Raucous vocal distortion from Jake Smallwood and his crashing tambourines, and a wealth of hazy guitars and rumbling bass. By just the second number 'Take Me Away', drummer Henry Sava has already got his top off (to be joined later by his guitarist cousin Tristan) and the serious business begins, not least in that their third number is 'Sit Back', set to be their upcoming November single. It's a powerful beast and puts all what the band have gelled together so far into one package. Get down to Paddy Power and put a few bob on this band reaching the same level as Blossoms within the next two years.

TIBET / photo: Linn Branson

The four Welshmen of Tibet lead with exuberance, soaring vocals, perfect indie guitar riffs and some lad larks as they close the night, sadly far later than expected (through no fault of their own) and to a diminishing crowd conscious of the time and it being a school night. A shame as they have rightly garnered kudos for their mix of 60s-inspired alt-rock combining ooh-ing harmonies, Arctic Monkeys style hooks and eye-catching left-handed guitarist/vocalist Joel Hurst (drummer brother Ethan being the last musician of the night to bare his pectorals) holding it all in place. They whip up a fast-paced run through the likes of 'My Girl' and crowd-pleaser 'I'll Put You In My Pocket', a kind of Welsh glam stomp.

As part of the Blogtober event focusing on new and emerging artists throughout October, tonight gave those who had ventured out a free taste of four acts that Little Indie feel have much to offer in the months ahead.