With the release of their latest album Darkness Brings The Wonders Home on 31^st January, Chichester’s Smoke Fairies have gone on tour across the UK. I caught their show at Rough Trade Bristol.

The sold out show was opened by John J Presley, a jazz-rock artist from Birmingham, supported by Paul May on the drums. John played us 8 tracks from his discography. His eccentric style, with heavy jazz chords and LOTS of reverb (so much reverb) was a good way to open the show.

After a short wait, the band took to the stage, welcomed with cheers from the crowd. Along with Katherine and Jessica, John J Presley was playing bass guitar and Shaun Fellowfield was on the drums.

The night’s set was opened with Super Tremolo, the 10^th track lifted off the latest release. The melodic rhythms and vocal styles made it a great opener to the show. This was followed by Chew Your Bones, another song lifted from Darkness Brings…

Out Of The Woods, with Jessica on the bass,and Eclipse Them All followed, the first song from an earlier album. A few introductions were said, but as a band they were definitely more players than talkers. This preceded Summer Fades, one of their earliest tracks, from their 2010 album Through Low Light and Trees.

One of their biggest tracks was played next, with Disconnect getting the room on their feet. This was before After The Rain, Left To Roll and their next biggest track Elevator. This was also joined with some great words of advice from Katherine – “don’t have important conversations in lifts.”

Alas, we were told there would only be two more songs. Don’t You Want To Spiral Out Of Control?  Was first of the last two, and the final track of the night from Darkness… before The Three Of Us rocked the crowd for what we thought was the end.

After a short walk-off walk-on from the band, we were treated to two actual last songs. Feel It Coming Near, a song about Laika, the first dog in space, was met with an “aww” from the crowd when we were told “he made it up, but did not come back down”, before the final track of the night. According to the setlist, this was And One For Luck, and although I’m not certain, I think it was Chocolate Rabbit, lifted from Darkness… that closed the night. It was met with cheers and shouts from the crowd, but the night was over. They also stayed around for photos and to sell merch at the end.

And with that, thanks must always go to the team at Rough Trade Bristol (who still need to sort their prices out) and Katherine Blamire, Jessica Davies, John J Presley, Shaun Fellowfield and Paul May for an excellent show.

Words by Ted Stargatt.

After the release of their 6^th studio album, Hello Exile, in October 2019, Pennsylvania’s The Menzingers are currently on tour, starting in the USA last year, before coming over to Europe and the UK. I checked them out in Bristol.

The night was opened by Mannequin Pussy, a four-piece punk rock group, also from Pennsylvania. They played a selection of songs from their albums from over the years. A new find for me, this group’s out-there style was a great way to open up the night.

A short wait, and Spanish Love Songs were next on stage. After releasing their latest album, Brave Faces Everyone, earlier that day, as well as playing an acoustic set at The Exchange, these guys rocked the stage. Playing 10 songs, both from the latest release and previous albums, it set the tone for the night nicely.

Soon after, SWX was plunged into darkness and David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel started playing. Tension and excitement grew through the crowd, as we anticipated what was next.

Anna, the most popular track (according to Spotify) from the latest album was played first, and the crowd were already on their feet and moving. This was followed by The Obituaries, contrasting with a song from a slightly older album, and the crowd continued to jump and dance along. After this was  House on Fire, and the circle pits and singalongs ripped through the crowd. This was when the first crowd surfers started, and security had a fun job of getting them off the barrier.

Rodent, Portland and Good Things, followed, with more mosh pits and crowd surfers, including some dropped before even making it to the front. Luckily the alcohol meant it probably didn’t hurt too bad.  

This preceded Burn After Writing, Thick As Thieves and High School Friends, a good mix of songs to dance and drink to. Tellin’ Lies was song 10 of the night, with more moshing and crowd surfing, keeping security on their toes. Last To Know and Strangers Forever was next, and though these songs weren’t moshed to as much, they still went down excellently, and almost everyone was singing along.

A message to home – America You’re Freaking Me Out – was played next, before their definitive most popular song (again, according to Spotify), I Don’t Wanna Be An Assehole Anymore, was played. Somehow, the crowd moved even more, with the most surfers of the whole night. A massive thank you must be said to the security for dealing with it well.

Up next was Nice Things, Your Wild Years (with a special shout out to those who came to see The Menzingers last time they played in Bristol) and London Drugs, another song lifted from Hello Exile.

The band then played a cover of The Clash’s Death or Glory. Although not what most of us expected to be singing along to, it was still a welcome part of the set.

The (first) big finish of the night was Lookers, with more pits and a general enjoyment from the crowd. At the end of the song, the lights went out, the band left the stage and we all waited, knowing it wasn’t really the end.

After a few minutes, Greg, Tom, Eric and Joe came back to the stage for two more songs.

In remission, was first song of the encore, followed by another of The Menzingers biggest hits. After The Party ended the night, with a final bit of moshing and one last crowd surfer, the night was drawn to a close.

The only complaint I have about the night that SWX is the coldest venue I have ever been in. Never have I thought about getting my coat from the cloakroom before the gig has even started.

And with that, thanks must go to Mannequin Pussy, Spanish Love Songs and The Menzingers, as well as the staff and security at SWX.

Words by Ted Stargatt

New York’s Kevin Devine played a sell-out show last night at Rough Trade Bristol, as part of a 4 stop tour of the UK, followed by an 8 stop visit to Germany, starting this week.

The night was opened by the amazing Mark McCabe. Chef by day, musician by night, mark played us a range of his songs, from the not so happy to the downright depressing, but nevertheless a great way to open the evening. A special shout out must go to this man, as it was the first time he’s played a show in over a year, and he completely owned the stage.

A short break, and then we were treated to the music of Lande Hekt. Although normally with her full band, Muncie Girls, Lande played solo for us last night, with a mix of songs from her latest album Gigantic Disappointment and some unreleased tracks. Lande’s amazing voice and brilliant guitar skills definitely make her an artist to look out for.

And at just after 9:45, the crowd welcomed the main man, Mr Kevin Devine onto the stage. Kevin said some introductions before playing his 2009 album Brother’s Blood in full. Between the 11 songs, stories were told, conversations with audience members were shared and a great time was had by all. “Our Kev” – as a loud Bristolian man in the crowd knighted him – shared his experiences of songwriting, his early childhood, and his views on religion. Everyone there enjoyed his tales, and his brilliant stage presence, both during a song and in between, kept everyone on edge.

After the album had been played in full, a couple of requests were played by Kevin before final thank yous were said. The night was ended with Cotton Crush, an ever popular song of Kevin’s, and was met by sing-alongs from the crowd. After his set, Kevin stuck around to take pictures and sell merch.

And with that, a massive thank you must be said to Mark McCabe, Lande Hekt, Kevin Devine and all the staff at Rough Trade Bristol (despite charging extortionate prices at the bar – £4.00 for a can of Cider?)

Review by Ted Stargatt

After seven years playing as a full band, Barry, Neil and Ben played one last gig together, and we couldn’t have asked for a better night.

The show was opened by the awesome Strange Planes. The four piece band played us a selection of their songs from both their latest EP, Deaf Rattle, and some of their older tracks. Their loud sounds and amazing guitar riffs set the perfect opening tone for the night.

After a quick break, The Vega Bodegas were welcomed onto the stage. Another loud and brash four piece, we were treated to more dirty riffs and heavy songs from the Welsh group. Between jokes about masturbating and even a quick Q and A, some really awesome tunes were played, and the set was ended with Barry joining them on stage for Rupert are you ready?

Another quick break, then it was time for the main attraction. There was a noticeable sad excitement in the room, as anyone who has seen Oxygen Thief knows their shows are always killer, but also knowing that this will be the last time as a full band.

The BNexit* party was started with the song Self-Righting Mechanism, a song that starts off gentle before crashing into the loud drums, heavy guitar and strong bass. This was followed by a quick welcome and introduction before getting straight into the next song.

End of Pier Pressure is a song that always gets people moving, and tonight was no exception. The crowd was head-banging and moving their feet as the guys rocked it out on stage. This was followed by Disaster Plan, another head-banger.

Barry’s rainbow Doc Martins danced across the stage for the next songs, Trial & Improvement and Hubristolian, a fitting song for this final gig. Meanwhile, Ben and his Orlando City football club shirt rocked the drums and Neil, well Neil being Neil, smashed it out on the bass guitar.

Lost in the post- was next, with a nod to the hyphen on the name, so not to get confused with the Royal Mail, before going into what was dubbed (according to the set list, which I now proudly possess) The C Section.

Atheist Dior, another loud and heavy song about a waste of space, memories and forgetting was next, ahead of what was – in my opinion – the most prominent song of the night. Graffiti; Irony; Lists, a both heavy sounding and heavy hitting song about history and politics raised the roof and sent a big “fuck you” to the MPs in Westminster. This was proceeded by Suspension Bridge of Disbelief, another well-fitting song.

The Back To D Lads section was kicked off with The Incredible Sulk, and then I used to be Elephants, another song full of dirty riffs from Barry.

This was followed by something a little bit different, unexpected, but totally fucking awesome. A mashup cover of Jailhouse Rock and Rage against the machine got the whole crowd on their toes, singing and rocking along.

Alas, we all knew it was soon to be over. Barry started a chant of “three more songs”, to which everyone joined in, before playing Terry Nutkins Salute and There Can Be Only One. “TWO MORE SONGS” continued to be chanted by the crowd, but we all knew it was soon to be at an end. Thank yous were said, final words of love between the band members were told, and the final song of the night, Modesty Is Dead, began.

After much head banging and dancing along, the end of the song was met with roaring cheers and shouts, and the three guys on stage put down their instruments (or sticks) and came together for one last on stage hug. The deafening shouts of the audience showed just how well these guys played together, and although this is the last, we all know that all three will have the greatest success with their future, whether that is in music or not.

And with that, I would like to thank Barry, Neil and Ben for an amazing night, and the Exchange for hosting.

Review by Ted Stargatt

*Not a typo, that’s “Ben & Neil Exit” day. Kind of like Brexit but more important.

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