Live
Soma Fest 2019
Day 1: Finborough Arms / The Troubadour, London
April 20 - 21 2019
Words/Pictures: Steve Willcox
Modern Age Music have put on an ambitious festival for their second edition this year. Spread over two days, three venues and two cities with 35 acts, it's hard, on the London leg at leasr, to know just who to see, but with the sun shining and a long Easter Bank Holiday weekend too, music is the way.
I arrive in the cramped cellar basement of the Finborough Arms to catch The C33s. This Manchester three-piece are known for their fast-paced rock guitars and hard hitting beats - which they very quickly demonstrate with a standout set with songs like ‘Lovers/Losers’ and new single ‘Manic Depression’ blistering the venue walls with some dirty bass noise and train-beat drumming, along with some great dual vocals of guitarist Cav Green and drummer Judy Jones.
The Novus are a punk-funk indie combo from Birmingham and their first song ‘Post Modern Fairytale’ was an energetic opener, with frontman Connor Hill’s outlandish persona and the band giving out a Pistoles-esque punk vibe. Halfway though the set a giant teddy bear makes its way to the front and starts to dance, apparently it belonged to the band Y!kes trying to lure us along to their set just starting down the road. (Crafty PR there.) Ending on ‘Break’ with its furious beats and anarchic riffs, ends an eclectic and enjoyable set.
I run to The Troubadour, a place with a lot of musical history with Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell all having graced its stage, just to catch the end of Y!kes set. From what I can hear, this Birmingham quartet can punch some tunes out, more in the alt-rock category then indie, but I enjoyed new track ‘Halcyon’ with the drums punching the walls into submission.
Suspects continue the rock theme. with Thomas Prescott’s vocals and loud guitars filling the body gaps of the room while the heavy drumbeats made my eardrums bleed during a raucous set.
Drusila from Portsmouth are up next, these guys play ambient synth indie with a rock edge. George on vocals moves around the stage like the son lounge lizard Brian Ferry in hus early days, and isn't shy of making himself vulnerable during those heartfelt songs. ‘Figure’ plays with Hugh’s beats along with George’s soaring guitar riff over a backing track, while ‘Too Many Lies’ blossoms to life with its guitar solo halfway thru that captivates this room.
Little Indie favourites, young Cardiff band Al Moses (who played their first English date for us last October for our curated Blogtoberfest night) have already garnered a reputation for solid sets and tonight is no exception. Playing their next single (out in June) ‘Taxidermy’, it's a gutsy tune with solid striking beats and it’s got a catchy chorus to remember it by. I had to leave during their latest song ‘I Want More’ which is a shame as I wanted to stay and listen to it fully. But will definitely catch these guys again.
China Bears take over at The Troubadour and get in some practice for their upcoming apoearance at The Great Escape. Fronted by twin brother guitarists Ivan and Frazer, they ger a chance to air their three singles to date, 'Meet Me In London', 'Hydra', and ‘Night Calls’; the latter which closed the set, getting the room moving with its uptempo grooves and downbeat lyrics.
Grimsby boys The Brookes are up next and fresh from their previous night's hometown sell out show. I had heard lots of good things about these, and they smash tonight with a dynamic electric set which has vocalist Bongé Keal stripping off his shirt and jump headfirst into the crowd, starting the set with ‘Constellations of You’ it leads the audience into a false sense of security and ends with their mental health charity single ‘Man Up’.
Guildford's finest Cascade play firmly in the Britpop genre. Sam Hallgalley’s vocals and guitar soar during their latest single ‘Are We Insane’ and the band's energy explodes during ‘Listen Now’ which ends their well-received set.
Running back to The Troubadour, I am in time to catch Yorkshire's Hello Operator at the end of their set. It's a busy room and they have brought in interest, although I only manage to catch the last few songs, they’ve got the crowd so worked up that singer Max Dalton has them all in the palm of his hand. Very soon too I am also jumping up and down in unison to ‘I Created a Monster’.
London girls Lock are a fine example of what a synth-pop/punk group should be. Sisters Gita and Edie Langley along with drummer Gabi Woo, soon start with some killer tunes and ‘Pink Lights’ ignites this packed venue that’s suddenly become a party. Carl Barât from The Libertines has come along to support them so we must be onto a good thing here. ‘Cinema’ slows things down only to be ramped up again with latest single ‘Hey Compadre’ closing their synth-pop set.
MOSES are the final act of the night at The Troubadour. Frontman Victor is a ball of energy and this pop-rock group know how to pull out the big tunes whip up a crowd. ‘Low’ with its infectious drum rolls as they sing the chorus “do you like it!” and ‘River Thames‘ as equally crowd-driven and continues despite the song ending. New single ‘I Think You Worry Too Much’, and ‘Cause You Got Me’ leave everyone jumping, including me, and uses the very last drop of my energy and probably that of quite a few others.
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