Norwich Rock Festival Day TWO - CASSELS, A-TOTA-SO, FEASTS & TAKEDA
Mark Stimpson
Full photo gallery HERE
And so to day 2 of Norwich Rock Fest.
The last and indeed only time I have seen TAKEDA was way back in 2011 (!) when an almost certainly different line up played the Night At The Popera at the Playhouse. That night, young Norwich bands were collaborating with a youth orchestra. Other than having a good time, I remember very little of it. Whatever, I have to wonder how I have missed Takeda in the intervening years because this is right up my street. The sound is epic, mixing heavy psyche with pop, post-rock, desert blues and even, on the intro to the set closer, a hint of outlaw country. I swear it will not be eleven and a half years until I see Takeda again.
FEASTS are a duo I have seen before and who I really rate. Tonight is another stormer. The guitar mixes sludgy, heavy riffing with melodic interludes and the occasional burst of pure, joyous noise. The drums combine thunderous pounding with almost jazz like figures. The gruff vocals are barked, hardcore style, rather than sung, and they’re not always directed at the mic. Feasts remind me of late 80s/early 90s US Underground acts like Bitch Magnet which, in my mind at least, is very high praise indeed.
A-TOTA-SO are a new one on me. Pre-gig listening revealed that their most recent album featured guest vocalists on most (if not every) song which begged the question of how they would perform those sings tonight. Well, the answer to that was to invite audience members to bellow over the opening and closing numbers, try to sing others themselves and even leave one or two as instrumentals. Starting like Husker Dü or Sugar, the set introduces thrashy grunge, math-rock, an almost Floyd-esque spaciness and Amenra-style doom to their sound. And it is really quite marvellous.
CASSELS are a vocals/guitar and drums duo that fill out their sound with live loops and an octaver pedal. On first impression, there is a distinct similarity to much-missed Norwich faves BK & Dad. With vocals that are more spoken-word than singing, the music can be ferocious but there are welcome moments of light and shade to make a dynamic live performance.
Another great night and now to try to get some rest before tomorrow.
