The Bodega hosted a rock-filled night with Nottingham band Those Howlin’ Sounds, punk rockers Calva Louise and psychedelic trio, The Blinders.
Doors opened at 7 as Nottingham-based garage band ‘Those Howlin’ Sounds’ took to the stage. Anyone who has performed in a band knows that opening a gig – particularly to a limited crowd – isn’t always easy.
Regardless, the quartet band rocked out as loud as they could, the somewhat small crowd cheered along (or politely clapped) and both the band and audience had fun – which ultimately is the point here. Playing hits off their new album “Sleepwalker” the group certainly started the night off with a blast.
As the crowd gets bigger – and a little tipsier – ‘bubble gum punk rockers’ Calva Louise set up ready to blast out songs like their latest release “I Heard A Cry” and the punky anthem “Outrageous.” Combining their infectious singalong lyricism and high energy riffs into a set for the books.
With Jess Allanic on guitar and vocals, Alizon Taho on bass, backing vocals and Ben Parker on drums and backing vocals, the trio brought together a high-octane, heavy hitting show that left the audience wanting more and hyped up ready for the headliners.
The upstairs of The Bodega now filled to the brim with hordes of fans clad in black with the iconic eye makeup of headlining band, The Blinders. The three-piece alternative group from Doncaster played through their proto-punk political psychedelic album “Columbia.”
With headbanging hits like “Hate Song” with a ballad-esque sound getting quicker leading to an explosive breakdown and mosh-pits with coordinated head banging erupting in the roaring crowd. “I Can’t Breathe Blues” with a heavy, galloping riff with bassist Charlie McGough at the helm leading the pounding beat and vocalist and guitarist Thomas Haywood leading the singalong “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, reinforced by the crash cymbals of Matthew Neale on drums.
The Blinders certainly know how to work a crowd, and a stage, with Haywood climbing atop the amp stack above the crowd to enthral them with his poetic lyricism.
By Ollie Bradley