Live
Camden Rocks
Various venues, Camden, London
June 1 - 2 2019
Words: Linn Branson
One newspaper described North London's Camden Rocks festival as being dedicated to "lads with guitars"; and while that remains largely the case in the majority of festivals, the two-day event this year saw a fairly healthy number of "ladies with guitars" fronting bands - and even some without a stringed instrument around their neck.
As its name somewhat implies, the annual Camden Rocks - spread over the Saturday and Sunday for the first time - leans heavily on the rock side amongst the large 400+-strong bill, and for those with a preference for something a little less bombastic, you had to search around.
Day One
Saturday in London dawns shining with sunshine and good vibes as things get underway, and Camden is deluged with several thousands of Rocks goers as well as usual influx of tourists and shoppers.
Bang Bang Romeo
Watching King Nun's frontman Theo Polyzoides as he bounds around the Dingwalls stage like a jack-in-the-box, you start to question whether it's a sign you're getting old when you're wondering how he manages it without doing a shed load of something. Known for their exuberant live act, they draw the early afternoon crowd to their dancing feet. As do the mighty Bang Bang Romeo, who follow them later on the same stage. Fiery red lighting matches the increasing summer temperature, inside and out, as they get a full room of appreciative festival goers their full money's worth. Next door at Canalside, Cavalcade's reputation - big sound and anthemic edge - has obviously preceded them - that, or the high decibel level to be heard in full blast the other side of the Lock - as the room is rammed, and interested spectators can only huddle at the entrance with craned necks.
The Dunts
Our day's trio of Scots, starts with The Dunts in super snazzy Doc Martens footwear, playing - where else, but Dr. Martens stage. The punchy Glasgow punks tear through song after song in almost one long segued strip. A powerhouse drummer in Kyle McGhee who provides the underpinning with his ferocious drums, behind driving guitars, and their trademark ‘council-punk’ sensibilities delivered by vocalist Rab Smith. New single 'Bad Decisions' and earlier hit, 'Dimitri, have more than one fan in the crowd, and dancing feet and crowd participation are strong.
Rascalton
Rascalton, ah, Rascalton, what can I say? I loved every single second of this set at The Monarch, which was undoubtedly one of my highlights of the weekend. The atmosphere had the perfect blend of a good band with a good crowd, all having a good time. I have banged on elsewhere about frontman Jack Wyles's very pleasing appeal visually; vocally and as a stage presence he exudes all the right watchable qualities to hold the interest too. Songs such as the irrepressible 'Eddy’ - “My name’s not Eddy” - and new single, 'Employee Of The Month', are all high energy, fast and frenetic, but all catchy enough for singalongs, before Jack jumps into the crowd on the last number, starting off a moshy mess, that leaves us exhausted - and the frontman outside on the pavement on his haunches gathering breath. That's the way to do it!
It is not the first time we have caught Heavy Rapids in recent weeks on the festival circuit. On Camden Assembly's stage they hold their own with songs from their imminent debut EP ‘Cash In Hand’. There's riffs and the rip-roaring ‘Infected Nightmares (Frankenstein)’ to carry them through, and latest single ‘Paisley Pattern’ that show this band's lyrical prowess.
Heavy Rapids
Wild Front in the faded grandeur of The Hawley's upper pannelled room, with sun shining in through the windows and the balcony door to right of stage blowing in a much needed cool breeze, was the perfect setting for the Southampton four-piece's melodic alt-rock style, and made for a brief welcome respite from the rock and punks elsewhere! Recent EP single 'Confetti' sounds as gorgeous live as on record.
Wild Front
En route up the cobbles of The Stables to catch Orchards at FEST, it dawns on me that this was the old Proud Camden. What should have been a good venue - plenty of room, seating along back wall, bar to side of stage - somehow always seemed to lack atmosphere, and I never enjoyed its coldness. And sadly, for me personally, nothing much has changed about the soulless quality of the place. The same can't be said about Brighton's effervescent alt-pop foursome Orchards, however. Lucy Evers out front is a bundle of energy and athletic ability as she moves around, bounding around the stage, jumping onto the floor, exhorting the crowd to move closer for 'Young', 'Mature Me', 'Luv U 2' and more.
Frank Turner
Frank Turner wraps up Saturday evening with an all-out performance at the Electric Ballroom. With not a spare inch to be had on the floor, it's a storming set, followed by a four-song cover encore, for which he is joined by members of The Virginmarys. With crowd-surfing ensuing, Turner lives up to his 'Punk Isn't Dead' t-shirt with renditions of Sex Pistols' 'Pretty Vacant', The Undertones' 'Teenage Kicks', The Clash's 'London Calling' and Sham 69's 'If The Kids Are United'.
Day Two
Cruel Hearts Club
The Pearl Harts at The Monarch, a rock’n’roll duo that makes up for its member number in their strong live act, are markedly different to the other Hearts. 'Is this Deap Vally?' enquired a somewhat bewildered punter of a photographer and myself at one point. Perhaps he could be forgiven for thinking the bruising twosome, Kirsty and Sara, were the LA two, as they do share a similar bad ass sassiness. Kent alt-blues rockers Salvation Jayne at Fiddlers Elbow, also kick up the dust. Led by the striking multi-colour-haired Chess Smith, who makes up one third of the female section, along with bassist Dan Lucas, their edgy sound encompasses a grunge-nu wave side. Kicking off with earlier single 'Cortez', it's their new release, 'Jayne Doe', with its rallying 'hey!'s that gets one eager male at the front going in for his own interpretation, as Chess hands him the mic, as another next to him is busy recording it all on his camera.
GLOSSII
GLOSSII were a 'by chance' catch at Dingwalls Canalside that was I much taken with. Compared to much of the same ilk, these South London indie punks had a style and frontwoman Sofia Zanghirella was engaging to watch with her gritty femme persona, a tight set of songs, and some glam on the side from the guitarist going on. Right song, right push, they have potential. If I was in the business of managing, I would probably be looking at these guys. It will be interesting to see where they go. As it will with London-based alt-rockwavers Drool, (with ex-VANT's Martin Söderin on drums, and led by vocalist/guitarist Joey Rogers), who play The Good Mixer. With first two tracks, 'Fun' and 'Junkyard', out this year, the Little Indie jury is reserving opinion on these as after initially contacting us some time ago asking for coverage, we heard no more from them, despite requests. Poor correspondents? Or bad manners? Potentially, I can see them rising up through ranks - though they may need to improve their PR skills!
Rat Boy
Rat Boy's ten-song set at Electric Ballroom is 50 per cent drawn from this year's 'Internationally Unknown' album, including 'Chip On My Shoulder', 'So What' and 'I Wanna Skate, but it is the likes of 'Fake ID' and 2015 debut 'Sign On' that make it on the night. Jordan Cardy can draw a crowd, but now older than when he first emerged with his skate punk-rap style, it is starting to feel maybe just a tad stale.
Al Moses
Around the corner in a change of venue to that originally advertised, Welsh band Al Moses haul their instruments up two flights of stairs to the top room of the Camden Eye for their early evening set. Even if you had never heard of the band before, with song titles like 'Gutter Rock Moxie', 'Am I So Vulgar?', 'Amateur Pornography' and 'He Truly Is The Son of God', you might be inclined to explore further, no? You wouldn't be disappointed if you did. One industry bod watching them was overheard expressing regret at not having got to sign them himself. With new single 'Taxidermy' out at the end of the month, and their confidence and attitude growing all the time, his may not be a lone voice expressing that wish.
An unexpected Sunday evening highlight were Glass Peaks at Dingwalls Canalside. The last time I had seen this trio myself was a year ago when they played The Great Escape. There, on a small cramped stage, with bad sound, they had left me underwhelmed. Tonight, with the sun setting outside, and the muggy day temperature having cooled pleasantly, providing the perfect ambience to what I can only describe as a blissful half-hour set by the Kent melancholic alt-indies. Although they closed on the Stephen King-inspired earlier single 'Misery', it was new release 'Traffic' that remained in my head long after, and the equally melt-worthy 'Architects'. Vocalist/bassist Alfie Jeffries ends with a rather heartfelt plea to the room that if they liked anything they had just heard, to "please follow us on social media. It really does help." I would add: follow, see, and, buy their music. Thank me later.
The Gulps
Not exactly blissful, and certainly a band you could never describe as mellow, Londoners The Gulps you can see as soon as they start their set on the same stage, are determined to bring it all on. And they do. It's a rock n roll mayhem mosh, that grabs those still managing to stand straight, and takes the party to another level.
Camden well and truly rocked for another year.
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