Pony Up @ Norwich Arts Centre

There are many here tonight to see the debut performance by Graceland, who are up next. Featuring members of ex Norwich bands like Fever Fever, these four women are a total powerhouse from the off. Spirited drumming, beefy bass, superb guitar work and jaunty keyboards make for a sound that’s closer to heavy rock than indie most of the time. Think Joy Division for guitar tunes. Think Savages for fuck-offness. Think Young Fathers for that oddness that means they feel they can do whatever they want in the music (and they do) and don’t have to explain it to anyone. A wall of sound sometimes builds up that sweeps me away into ecstasy. This is serious music, by powerful women, with the occasional playful moment. The only weakness in their game tonight, for me, is their vocal strength; only when two or more of them sing together is there any sort of volume to meet the music. They’re very confident but also careful musicians. It’s hard to believe they are already this good at their debut gig. Much practicing must have gone on. Ones to watch fo shiz.

Headliners Kid Wave, heading out on their first headline tour this autumn, are tight and can play well; it's all in tune and all in time. The drummer, in particular, is very good indeed. There are moments of grandeur when they really allow themselves to cut loose. But something’s missing; the songs just aren’t memorable enough and I find it hard to find a tune in some of them. They’re not rock enough to be indie rock, and they’re not quite introspective or hazy enough to be shoegaze. They end up wedged somewhere between the two, playing merrily away but without the power or uniqueness that I’m after. After a few songs they seem to get on it a bit more and start to enjoy themselves. Kid Wave are OK but not great tonight; perhaps a few more shows will encourage them to take the bull by the horns and really give it some welly.