Music > Live Reviews
Deaf Havana // The Waterfront - 25.04.2011
03/05/12
Support from The Dangerous Summer & The Swellers.
Up first are Maryland natives The Dangerous Summer and with them they bring their own taste of pop-punk; the perfect soundtrack for the beginning of a night like this. There is a subtle sense of excitement and pride in the air at the fact that Deaf Havana, a band who seem to have taken a while to really get anywhere, are now playing sold out shows all over the country. The Dangerous Summer sadly don’t manage to get many people moving, but their energy really begins to get people hyped and ready for the next two bands.
Up next are the Michigan punk rockers The Swellers. Having supported the likes of the much beloved welsh rockers The Blackout previously in our fine city, it is obvious by the sheer number of people singing and dancing along that the 4 piece are well loved in Norwich. The venue seems to be splitting at the seams with people young and old, moving along to the band’s infections punk anthems. Hands and voices are raised when the band delve into their more popular hits such as Fire Away. There is a slight pause when the sound decides to cute out momentarily, but the band finish the song brilliantly before vacating the stage. The crowd are left hot, rushing for the bar and buzzing for headliners Deaf Havana.
Armed with songs old and new, local boys Deaf Havana make their way onto the Waterfront stage to a roar of applause and excitement. Rushing straight into song Leeches, the venue gets straight into the music and doesn’t seem to stop for air the rest of the night. Anyone who has seen Deaf Havana before will know singer James is notorious for losing and complaining about his voice. Tonight is no different however to me and everyone else here, it sounds fantastic as ever. The crowd are singing back with such energy however, it wouldn’t matter even if his voice was to fail him. Only 2 songs in and the room is already hot, sticky and according to the band, better than Manchester the night before. Nothing like a little competition to get people going! As soon as the starting ‘wo-ohs’ of I Will Try hit the air, the energy being exploded from the instruments onstage takes mere seconds to absorb into the crowd and at this point, even those standing by the bar and merch are moving along with the band’s contagious enthusiasm. A stripped down, slower version of the classic Friends Like These was an unexpected but very welcome surprise, really showing how much the band have come along since the depart from former co-singer Ryan. The equally as amazing Anemophobia finds people literally swinging from the roof and spending more time on the audience than in it. After playing single I’m A bore Mostly and crowd favourite Nicotine & Alcohol, the 4 piece + Jame’s younger brother Matt on guitar, leave the stage for a quick break before coming back to bring it even more for their last two songs. The band vacate the room after an encore of The Past Six Year and Fifty Four, leaving the crowd still hyped and with massive smiles on their faces after what can only be described as a kick ass gig!
8/10 Ellie Smith