Music > Live Reviews

Hawklords

The Brickmakers

15/11/17

This was Hawklords' third visit to Norwich in as many years and their second in a row at this venue. Great though last year was, my lasting memory was a feeling of sadness that there weren’t more there to appreciate this wonderful band. Walking into the pub I was relieved to see a lot more people in attendance, and while we’re still not talking huge crowds, those extra punters through the door ultimately made all the difference for band and fans alike.

I won’t bore you with another history lesson, suffice to say Hawklords will forever be connected to the Hawkwind mothership, but having just released their sixth album in six years they have long since become their own band. On this run of dates frontman and focal point of the band Ron Tree is mysteriously not participating, and I wondered what impact this was going to have on the show. Coming on stage with little fanfare, I spent the first song all too aware of my surroundings. For music that requires full immersion, I found the venue to be simply too bright to allow this – like, turn some of the lights down or off guys. Still, things soon began to fall into place. The band seemed somehow freer than before and more relaxed, the sound mix was absolutely perfect allowing every instrument to breathe within the sonic storm. All four members are musicians of the highest calibre, who are clearly doing this mainly for the love of the music and the buzz of performing. Original keys and synth man Harvey Bainbridge puts the space into the rock, sometimes just the merest turn of a dial brings forth the most wondrous sound. Tom Ashurst, who is decades younger than his bandmates, has fully arrived now as the band’s bass player, three years into his tenure. Centre stage and up front, he really is looking the part and his playing was absolutely brilliant. Drummer Dave Pearce keeps it simple kit wise, but is constantly busy, bringing jazz patterns into play and going about his brilliant business with the minimum of fuss. Guitarist Jerry Richards takes care of the bulk of lead vocals, although Harvey also takes some songs, but mostly Jerry plays the kind of guitar that is a privilege to see. Almost casual in his playing style, he really is a fantastic player – punky riffs or stratospheric solos, everything he does appears effortless.

Although the venue is quite small we still get the full visual accompaniment and as we, the increasingly vocal audience, unconsciously edge closer to the stage by the midway point of the two hour show I am getting full body tingles and have completely left this earth. Of course we get some older songs – Free Fall, The Right Stuff, Coded Languages (incredible) and Ejection – but the band’s recent material is also excellent, with new song Ghost In My Machine and 2016’s SR-71 sounding as good as anything else I heard. Of my three live Hawklords experiences this was easily the best, we almost pleaded for a genuine encore and by the end they’d been playing for over two hours.

I wondered how things would go down without Ron; I have no idea of the reasons behind his absence, but on this evidence if the future of the band is without him, the future is dazzlingly bright. They’ve now been elevated to the upper echelons of the very best live bands around in my mind, and one I will make a point of seeing every time they come to Norwich. To be transported away after a few pints on a Tuesday night in a pub in Norwich takes something really special to make that happen. It also felt like they’ve found their venue too, it was a great place to watch them. After the show I was fortunate to have a chat with Jerry and Harvey and two nicer fellas you couldn’t wish to meet. It was great to hear how much they’d enjoyed the show, but mainly it was a pleasure to look ‘em in the eye and tell what I suspect they already know – you guys are fucking GREAT.

Photo: Chester Standard

Photo: Chester Standard