Live
L.A Witch + Abjects + Ghum
Sticky Mike's Frog Bar, Brighton
September 19 2017
Words/Pictures: Steve Willcox
It was a 'girls rock' night tonight down at Brighton's Sticky Mike's emporioum of sound. The total of ten ladies making up the evening's three bands not only put on a fine combined force of girrrl power, but delighted all us chaps too.
Ghum, an 'atmospheric dark pop' all girl four-piece from London start things off, bringing some uplifting beats to these Brighton shores. Frontwoman Laura Guerrero Lora has a great tuneful voice that cuts through the amps of the group and drumming of Vicki Dawson (formerly of Witches of Oz), against a psychedelic backdrop. Their songs are often lengthy - the motorik 'Witches' close on four minutes - and guitars on likes of 'Shallow' and 'TV' - all from their debut EP released earlier this year - spellbinding. New song 'Always' also received a good crowd reception. Definitely glad I arrived early to see this band.
London trio Abjects need no introduction to increasing crowd now filling up the downstairs basement. Vocalist/guitarist Noemi strikes a cutting shadow against the background, as the three soon get down into their bold punk-garage set. Yuki's bass thumps away during 'Aburrido' like a heart monitor on speed, while Alice's drums cut through the air as sharp as a surgeon's scalpel. 'Messed Up' was probably my personal favourite of their set. I was a little surprised by their not being as heavy as I had expected, instead sporting a great dancing set with some banging beats. Excellent stuff.
With their debut album just released, Los Angeles' L.A Witch, a foxy psych-punk three-piece with heavy drums, reverb guitar and a pumping bass, are currently on tour in the UK delivering their enigmatic sound that is somewhere between a naughty wayward child of Chris Issak and Lana Del Rey. A kind of open country music for the rebellious youth. Songs of the night for me were 'You Love Nothing' displaying a dark, classic structure in its melodies, 'Untitled' with its unbridled guitars and rocky riffs, and the deep bass groove from Irita Pai, and Ellie English’s heavy, pounding drums on 'Ain't Comin Home' makes it an addictive head nodder, coupled with the slow, sultry voice of Sade Sanchez.
Sanchez's delivery is perfect for the genre and fully encapsulates the L.A Witch drive, whether taking on the dreampop of 'Baby In Blue Jeans' over a drenching of trippy surf guitar reverb, or the fuzzy shimmer and motorik beat of 'Drive Your Car'. These Californian witches tonight wove their spell to perfection - literally, bewitching.
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