Sundara Karma
Sundara Karma embraced the indie pop scene around 2014 entering with a relative buzz having only just left college and attempting to kick-start their careers at the age of 18.The last time they came to Norwich, they played at the LCR alongside Nothing But Thieves and Black Foxes. Previously greeted by the relatively spacious LCR, the Waterfront has a completely different atmosphere; intimate, rowdy and ultimately quite humid.
Sundara Karma was supported by the energetic indie rock outfit Joy Room and preceded by the punk rock-esque band Freak. Freak featured crunchy guitar riffs and frustrated vocals reminiscent of Rat Boy, but with more edge. Joy Room opened the gig with an indie rock explosion which succeeded in riling up the crowd. As the first band on, they had the challenge of getting the audience warmed up and they certainly rose to that challenge perfectly, securing a mosh pit in their second song. They went on to say that the audience was “the best audience we’ve had all tour”. Joy Room definitely have potential in the world of indie rock and I hope to see them headlining gigs in Norwich soon.
Teen energy was a definite characteristic of the night and was clearly a first gig for a large amount of the crowd and it certainly was a raucous and loud welcome to the gigging scene.
Freak followed Joy Room offering an incredibly lively and raucous atmosphere on stage, bringing punk bangers that only seemed to rile up the crowd even more than Joy Room did. They performed excellently, finishing their testosterone induced set with What Happened?. It brought an extraordinarily simplistic and yet raw sound to the room. This band has definite potential and I recommend watching out for them. While they may be new, they brought a rough and sweat-filled sound to the evening. They are perfect for a support act, but this band is certainly ready for headlining their own gigs. Simplistic, energetic and yet still powerful. Definitely a band to keep an eye out for.
Sundara Karma entered the stage to a very warm welcome from the young audience. Oscar Pollock (lead singer/guitarist) donned a leather jacket and a bare chest with a fender mustang at his disposal. After finishing Run Away, Pollock went on to encourage crowd surfing, challenging them to attempt to get on stage. One of the fan’s favourites She Said offered an energetic buzz to the venue. She Said is a traditional indie pop anthem featuring a catchy chorus and a driving drum beat. The chorus was anthemic and provoked a sing-along atmosphere. The song was clearly designed with stadium ambitions, although they appeared to be missing a uniqueness that would secure their path to such.
Sundara went on to finish the evening with an encore of the floaty and yet fast-paced Loveblood which in my opinion, was an excellent end to an enjoyable evening.
