Bodega - Damp Matches
Three and a half years ago New York art-rock band Bodega headlined at Norwich Arts Centre in what was one of my standout gigs of the year (made even better by an early support appearance from London band Dry Cleaning). Bodega were sassy, charismatic and rocked to a medley of influences, from Talking Heads to B-52's, and Bob Dylan to Velvet Underground. There were even hints of Salt'n'Pepa and Beastie Boys thrown in to the mix.
Their 'Broken Equipment' album, the full-length follow-up to 2018's 'Endless Scroll' was released in March of this year, but Norwich did not make the cut for the band's UK and European Tour in the Spring. Fortunately for us, though, Bodega are back in the UK for their 'Territorial Call of The Fall' tour, and after gigs in Scotland, Wales and around England in October, they started November with a visit to Epic Studios in Norwich.
With several line-up changes since first visiting Norwich, core members Ben 'Bodega' Hozie and Nikki Belfiglio are now joined by Dan Ryan on guitar, Adam See on bass and Adam Shumski on drums. The absense of previous drummer Tai Lee has changed the dynamic of the band, but Shumski seems to have fitted in well. During final sound-check he is practicing his latest trick – throwing a drumstick down onto the stage and catching it on the rebound. Meanwhile, Belfiglio is attempting to follow suit. Percussion is a big part of the Bodega sound, and with Shumski working the stand-up kit and Belfiglio front of stage with cymbal and sound programming, there are moments when Bodega's primarily post-punk beat approaches the sound and style of a Fifth Avenue marching band.
Hozie's guitar playing is intense, his shredding riffs augmented by pulsating bass from Adam See and additional work from Dan Ryan. The result has a pace and urgency that references both the Southern swampiness of Kings of Leon and the post punk thump of Joy Division. And holding court centre stage is Nikki Belfiglio, with a sassy sense of sartorial elegance that tonight is clearly channelling Breakfast at Tiffany's Holly Golightly. With a voice that is one part Siouxsie Sioux and one part Kate Pierson, lead singer Belfiglio utterly commands our attentions, and is the band's central force.
Bodega play an incredibly generous set that packs in eight out of the fourteen tracks from debut album 'Endless Scroll' (including an amzing extended rock-out to 'Truth Is Not Punishment'), plus new record 'Broken Equipment' in its entirety, and a cover of the Stretch Arm Strong song 'For the Record'. And they still find room for a five-song encore that features EP tracks 'Realism' and 'Shiny New Model', plus 'Warhol', 'Name Escape' (at the audience's request), and a cover of Pavement's 'Shoot the Singer'.
Not only did Bodega look and sound great, but they played with an honesty and magnanimity that spawned a real sense of audience connection. Thanks so much to everyone at Epic Studios for putting on such an amazing night. It was my favourite gig of the year to date, and probably my best night at Epic ever.
Support came from local outfit Damp Matches, who lit up the stage in exactly the same way that they did when they supported Starcrawler at Norwich Arts Centre in June. A fiery five-piece from Norwich with Helena Lewis on lead vocals, they strike an exciting balance of alt-rock with just a touch of hip-hop, and are just perfect to get the party started. They are, most definitely, a band to stand back and enjoy.
