Drenge

Drenge

Mar 31

LET THE BLOODSPORTS BEGIN

When: 27 March 2019

Where: King Tut’s

Support: Valeras

Band Previously Seen: 26 Sept 2015 supporting Wolf Alice at Brixton Academy; 3 May 2018 at The Art School

Support act Valeras are a band I want to see again – they were vibrant, committed and had some great tunes. Great way to warm up the stage that crowd appreciated.

Very early on in their set Drenge encountered guitar problems but fortunately they were resolved and King Tut’s were treated to a classic KT gig. The band were excellently led by Eoin Loveless on lead vocals and guitar whist his brother Rory supplied the propulsive drumming and Rob Graham the pulsating bass lines that anchored many of the songs.

This was rock with its roots in garage rock and punk played with vigour and attitude. The energy leaps off the stage and into the crowd and an exuberant mosh pit dominates the front of the small venue. But whilst many of the songs have undercurrents of violence the mosh is one of the friendliest I have seen – only the at times over-excitement of the large guy with beard at its front, gleefully singing all the lyrics, poses any (inadvertent) threat to the joyful revellers.

The tour is to promote their new album Strange Creatures and the new songs were very good – I particularly liked the title track (see sample video below). I first saw them, along with my brother, at the Brixton Academy and even though were up in balcony seats and they were only the support act even then their febrile energy had impressed us both. And that ferocity is still there. A great live band.

had seen Drenge 9 months before at The Art School

Band page

Sample video