Battery Hens
With a sound straight out of the 1990’s Seattle scene, but covered in extreme doses of effects, Portsmouth based Battery Hens get the night off to a heavy start and go down well amongst the initially rather static crowd.
You’re Smiling Now but we’ll all turn into Demons
Another Pompey band now, and having not been able to see them at this years’ Southsea Fest (due to the venue being filled to capacity) I was pleased to see the Demons back on the stage, having not heard from them for a few years.
So having once been one of my favourite local bands I was disappointed to hear they were a man down due to illness, although the Demons made it easy to forget there was a guitar missing as they played an incredibly tight and noisy set.
Pounding through their instrumentals as a three piece, the absence of a second guitarist was only noticeable during one track which was also duly noted by the band themselves. This aside, every other epic piece was played with an intense sense of passion, the sparse vocals coming to the forefront on the odd occasion in a latter day Mogwai-esque style.
They leave the stage and the headliners must have enjoyed this as much as I did, and I’m pleased to see these guys back on form – looking forward to seeing them back to their full line up.
Bo Ningen
Having relocated to London from their homeland of Japan, Bo Ningen are fast gaining cult status on the underground scene and are set to be one of the few bands that move to the big smoke to live the dream and actually “make it”.
Their loud and energetic live act leaves crowds blown away, and tonight is no exception. Bo Ningens sound is immense – a barrage of heavy psychedelic post rock with lyrics sung in their native tongue it’s easy to loose yourself in the music and the crowd enjoy every moment of it.
With a new album out there are of course a number of new favourites to rock out to, although it’s a track off “Koroshitai Kimochi” which I find most mesmerizing. This is a slower number, drenched in just as much psychedelia but beautifully crafted, showing this band capable of ticking all the right boxes. Having had the opportunity to see Bo Ningen a few times now, I think tonight was their best show yet and I will be checking out “Line the Wall”, their new release, as soon as possible.
Teeth
