These New Puritans

These New Puritans

Apr 14

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

When: 11 April 2019

Where: SWG3 Warehouse

Support: Snack Villain

These New Puritans are an art/experimental rock band – you can tell they are experimental because they do not have a guitarist but do have a metallophonist (which is like a xylophone). And tonight they also have an excellent light show.

There are about 100 punters in the SWG3 Warehouse (which despite is name is actually one of the smaller venues in the SWG3 complex with a stranding capacity of 450) but they are treated to a show by the band as if they were playing to ten times that number. Right from the brooding opening number the band give a committed art rock performance.

Frontman Jack Barnett is mesmerising, emerging and receding from the moody lights that bathe the stage for most of the set. His brother George’s metallphone playing is integral to many of the songs and provides most of the melodic notes of the evening. And the guy on the various electronics energetically ties things together whilst the drummer is immense – the sound he gets from his drums tonight is huge!

Many of the songs tonight are from their first album in 6 years, interwoven with older tunes. Whilst they are clearly in the art rock camp the electronic groove on some of the songs were only a steps removed from electro dance. This is a band I saw on spec – I don’t own any of their albums and didn’t know too much about them – and whilst I did not leave the gig a card carrying fan club member, I am very happy I saw them as they put on an impressive show.

Band page

Sample video