As someone who has been writing about music for the better part of 2 decades, it’s very easy to become cynical. It’s refreshing then when bands & gigs come along that remind you why you fell in love with this stuff in the first place. Tonight’s gig at The Boileroom in Guildford is one of those instances.Hotly tipped Hampshire band STAYAWHILE are celebrating the release of their debut album Pixels with an album launch supporting by fell South Coast noise makers Bottomless Brunch (the band, not the meal just fyi) it promises to be an exciting evening.
Up first is Bottomless Brunch (8), who themselves are on an upward trajectory, thanks to their massive new single Freak (which gets an airing tonight) you can definitely hear the Royal Blood & Muse influences, as the sharp dressed gentlemen dole out even sharper riffs. There is an air of confidence to tonight’s performance that suggests they have been doing this longer than they have. It’s tight, focused and professional. They even throw in a cheeky little bit of Iron Man by Black Sabbath as a coda to the end of the end of their set.
I have a feeling based on tonight’s very short but impressive set that it won’t be long before the Bottomless Brunch boys become a household name. Watch this space.
Tonight’s headliners STAYAWHILE are in a similar boat. A Hampshire band out there in the world starting to make a name for themselves. With Radio One exposure in the bag and their debut album Pixels out now, they are getting some traction behind them. This evening’s show is in celebration of the aforementioned debut album.
There is a sense when watching a band sometimes of seeing not what they are, but what they can become. STAYAWHILE (8) are a band that are playing to north of 100 people on a Sunday night, but they could easily be playing to 10,000 at a festival tomorrow night. Sometimes bands just have that thing about them that works. You very rarely get a band in this stage of infancy that has the songs and the live show nailed. You usually get one or the other, not often both.
Singer Jack Lovelock is an engaging frontman, who while missing some of the stagecraft of a rockstar, engages with the audience on a more human intimate level. The rest of the band are no slouches either. Bassist Harry Lovelock supports on backing vocals, adding soulful tones to some of the set’s more emotional moments. He gets a moment to shine, taking over main vocals for a moving rendition of My Way.
Guitarist Elliot Mitchell pulls out all of his best guitar god moves, getting up close and personal as he shreds into the front row on more than one occasion. Not to be left out Drummer Lawrence Ambett pounds the skins in a way that would make Animal’s head spin. Even with a performance as tight as this, everything still lives and dies by the quality of the songs. Thankfully then STAYAWHILE have those in spades. Cuts like Venom, Cherry, Glue & Envy are the kind of sunshine on a nice day, chilling with your mates in a beer garden kind of vibey pop rock you want to put you in a good mood.
Even the more tender songs like Together, Eventually, Destined to be Alone & the previously mentioned My Way don’t bring the vibe down. They play much better in a live arena due to the sincerity and vulnerability they project when played right in front of you.
It’s a rarity nowadays to get a band that is this confident, fully formed and so assured in their own talents so early into their careers. Getting two of them in one night then is a miracle. Both of these bands have big bright futures ahead of them and tonight was the very tip of the iceberg. Expect huge things from both of them in the coming months, and take the opportunity to see either of them or both of them now while you can, because they won’t be in venues of this size for long.
For more information on Bottomless Brunch head here
For more information on STAYAWHILE head here
