By Bastion King.
It’s clear someone did their job right when crafting this lineup, as they’ve brought together three bands that are more than capable of leaving a lasting impact on anyone watching. Given that our headliners this time around, The Callous Daoboys, are doing their first full UK headline tour, it’s understandable that this gig saw enough interest to not only sell out the venue but also upgrade it from the Bodega to the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham.
Ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Pain Travels’, which drops April 10th, Love Rarely have been supporting The Callous Daoboys and Knives as the opening act for the UK leg of the Heaven Across EU/UK tour, setting the tone with an explosive burst of energy.
From the moment they launched into ‘Whiplash’, frontwoman Courtney Levitt channeled an intensity reminiscent of Hayley Williams, albeit with a much harsher and more abrasive edge. Those shouty vocals and melodic delivery effortlessly drew the crowd in. She ensured every corner of the room felt involved by moving constantly around center stage, rarely standing still, a perfect way to hype up the crowd.
‘And You Know It’ proved to be quite the standout moment, as it built tension before pushing towards an explosive finish that earned one of the loudest responsrs of their set. It was equally compelling watching the band interact with each other as well as playing to the crowd and encouraging them to let loose.
For an early slot, Love Rarely delivered a confident and memorable opening. It's clear we can expect good things from this band moving forward.
If Love Rarely lit the spark, then Knives poured fuel on the fire. From the opening notes of ‘The Dagger’, the Bristol six-piece unleashed a relentless, high-octane performance that rarely took a break, making it a challenge to keep up with them as a photographer. Bassist Ben Marshal was especially quick to show just how much energy this band requires to perform without detracting from frontman Jay Schottlander’s fierce vocal delivery, which easily cut through the band’s heavy riffs and got the crowd riled up.
By this point, the venue had filled out and the crowd responded in kind, forming moshpits in the center of the crowd, with even a couple of crowd surfers popping up throughout the songs. We were even treated to an incredible run of 'Rhinestone', which while still as heavy as you'd expect, had an infectious groove behind it that made it difficult to not move to.
A special mention must go to saxophonist Izzi, who added some incredible audible and visual flair. With her dancing on stage in between verses and swinging her saxophone around on its sling, she embodied that chaotic spirit that's part and parcel with Knives' sound. Even her energy seems contagious. All in all, Loud, fast, and unapologetically intense, Knives delivered a set that felt as exhilarating as it was exhausting.
By the time The Callous Daoboys took the stage, anticipation had peaked, and they wasted no time in capitalising on that hype. Kicking their set off with 'Full Moon', lead singer Carson was right over us in the photo pit, center stage, unleashing his vocals with an unrestrained ferocity. His band mates matched this with ease, creating a performance that felt on the verge of collapsing into chaos. He got so intense, he even jumped over me from the stage to the pit barrier and yelled his lyrics into the darkness. Scared the living daylights out of me, but it was worth it for the experience.
One of the defining elements of their sound comes from violinist Amber, who really adds some unique vibes to the whole ensemble. There's quite a mix of tones too, from lighter more slow paced, funk-filled songs like 'Lemon' which the crowd love to sing along to, to more high intensity songs like 'Pink Envelope'. It's enough to give you whiplash.
Now, prior to their set, I happened to catch guitarist Maddie and (if memory serves correctly) drummer Erin, doing a physical warm up. At the time, I thought it was an impressive and smart decision, but seeing the two perform live really hammered home just how much that warm up was needed and how much stamina this entire band has. They were easily able to push that hour-long set and seemed to feed off the crowd's energy and return it tenfold.
By the time they closed their set, the room was left buzzing, resulting in a fitting end to a night that showcased three bands operating at the peak of their abilities. Tonight was well worth the experience and, if you missed it, then you still have a few more opportunities to see them, including in November when they support Enter Shikari alongside Holding Absence.
If you’d like to find out more about any of the bands playing tonight, just tap the links below:
Knives
The Callous Daoboys
Photography by In My Lens on behalf of Get Heavy UK. Images are not to be redistributed, reproduced, or used elsewhere without prior permission.
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