17.10.11

Moçambican Roots, Rock, Reggae: 340ml at Unit 11

As a friend noted on Saturday, Unit 11 was for the night attended by a 'weird' crowd. It was a fair appraisal; disparate cliques and scene kids jostled like impermeable amoebas in front of an equally disparate collection of bands. Scarlet Hill started the show with a tight indie punch and a fatter sound than I expected from a youthful three-piece. They've found a solid support base; their audience was particularly eager to pocket their hands and watch with a half smile - the self-aware dance of those trying to appear 'in-the-know'. Habit To took to the stage next, but unfortunately I only caught what sounded like a Rage cover while I was outside eavesdropping on one guy's plans to be a billionaire in two years time, and I slunk in for their final song; a smoky, heavy piece.

Eventually 340ml, the ever amicable and bemusedly smiling four-piece reggae rockers, shuffled onto the stage. Their characteristic tight performance and atmospheric sound melted the barriers of the group dynamics in the crowd, and for the first time in a long time, the majority of the grinning, warm-eyed onlookers jived to the unabashedly repetitive lyrics and sonic euphoria. The band have a loose, unrestrained aesthetic on stage, ironically counterpointed by their pin-point precision and seemingly telekinetic 'feeling out' of each song that is always so much more impressive than the playing-to-the-timer feel of less experienced bands. If you haven't heard them, get your ears on some 340ml at your earliest convenience.


 Scarlet Hill

  Scarlet HillScarlet Hill Scarlet Hill 340ml 027edit Scarlet Hill Scarlet Hill


 Habit To

  Habit ToHabit To Habit To


340ml

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3 comments:

  1. bands like this deserve to be shot wil a 50mm :)

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  2. I'm thinking of trying my Canon A1 film camera at the next show - with a 50mm 1.4. Amped!

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  3. love the last shot!

    ReplyDelete