Taking place at the unique and quirky venue of Hey Base Camp in Middlesbrough, as I walked into the venue hearing the soundchecks echoing through the vast rooms, this was what live music is about: it’s not about getting the perfect sound or elegant venues, but it’s about the passion of the performers and the audience’s desire for fresh, original music.
Dripp started the night by smashing some funky, grungy and groovy sounds through the walls while colliding into a synth vortex of fuzz. The Teesside four-piece is an act that brings a new perspective to combining genres and their live show did not disappoint. Their heavy fuzzy riffs and resounding funky drums create the backbone to their music with psychedelic lyrical injections and sharp, unpredictable synths.
The second act was the charismatic GGAllan Partridge who created a fury of psychedelic, bohemian, radge-pop. Their set was filled with explosive energy and vivid sounds throughout. Don’t underestimate this all-girl band as they know how to kick you in the face physically and musically. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, their set was cut short, which was disappointing as I wanted to hear more but they handled it with true punk-rock dignity.
There were some nice touches to the night such as free shots given out from headliners The Shakin’ Nightmares, great merchandise and watching their ‘Alien Orders’ music video on the big screen. These touches made the night even more special and showed that the band really appreciated their fans.
The Shakin’ Nightmares took to the stage with their infusion of dark, sinister sounds interjected into classic rock ‘n’ roll. What makes them stand out is their combination of a variety of genres to produce their unique and fresh sound, which would have you dancing like a 1950’s rock ’n’ roller then jumping like a punk rocker and then swaying like a reggae fan. Their set had the swagger of a 1950’s rock ’n’ roll star, the luring and silken darkness of the Queens of the Stone Age and the aggression of The Clash.
Their set showed that they can produce a range of quality songs, proving they still have the fire burning to make more fine work like ‘Alien Orders’ and ‘Unbelievin’.
Overall, it was refreshing to listen to musicians doing things their own way. This was an outstanding night and I eagerly wait for another gig that hits the heights of this.
