Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Photo by Klowe Photography

Opening up for BRMC were the four sisters from Stonefield. With their sound that’s heavily steeped in 70’s Sabbath-esque drone rock witha healthy tinge of psychedelia they proved a more than adequate opening act for the night. Drummer/vocalist Amy Findlay certainly had the chops percussion wise but the band’s vocals do scream out for a throatier, rawer tone at stages. Showcasing some songs from their forthcoming new album they displayed a punchier, more focused approach to composition whilst still retaining the retro rock sound they’ve made their own. New songs like Love showed the band in a catchier more upbeat mode that still sat nicely alongside the more laconic doom laden majority. Bathed in blue light, the red carpeted stage and the theatre’s Art Deco surrounds transported one back to the halcyon days of such hallowed grounds as the Fillmore East and the like and the sheer enthusiasm the sisters showed was quite infectious.
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Stonefield – Photo by Klowe Photography

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“It’s nice to be back, wherever the fuck we are” quipped Robert Been as the dying notes of BRMC’s Spook echoed out into the high ceilings. Certainly one of the standout tracks from their Wrong Creatures album, the sheer dark ferocity the band display onstage makes them one of the most powerful live bands one can witness. And LOUD too. With a phalanx of Marshall JCM800 amps and a wall of bass cabs on stage the trio laid down a relentless, brooding rock show with plenty for all in front of them. Rolling out Beat The Devil’s Tattoo early on in the night was an inspired move as Breen – who complete with leather jacket and black coiffed hair channeled the Jesus and Mary Chain’s William Reid – wielded his bass shotgun style and pointed it at the crowd. Across the stage guitarist Peter Hayes blew some menacing harp on Ain’t No Easy Way, singing into his harp mic and giving his voice a haunting distorted quality that perfectly accompanied the music.
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Photo by Klowe Photography

At times the band does owe a huge debt to the Mary Chain – the lords of noise rock – and there’s definitely a sinister underbelly lying just below the surface of most of their songs. They delved deep into their back catalogue for songs like Berlin and White Palms and yet this was a set that leant heavily on tracks from the new album. Haunt, Echo and Carried From The Start all displayed an unholy alliance of dirty blues and atmospheric psyche rock and yet there’s also and indefinable element that makes them so engaging. Elsewhere in the set they paid homage to the earlier shoegaze sounds of the band on songs like Awake and Love Burns that show just how much they’ve honed and focused the BRMC sound over the years.

With drummer Leah Shapiro at the rear they constructed a dense wall of noise that still managed to retain it’s strong melodic component all throughout. It’s still clear that Breen is the main focus out the front however, his almost surly stage manner, barely saying anything at all, is more than made up for by his sheer stage presence. Twisting and turning, beating his hand against his head as if driving out demons, unleashing huge rumbling bass lines, he came across every bit the tortured artist whilst Hayes, seemingly lost in his own world on the opposite stage side, let loose walls of white noise.
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – photo by Klowe Photography

Echo bought a hauntingly tender moment to the set as did a show stopping acoustic Lullaby, played solo by Been. Six Barrel Shotgun and a demonic Spread Your Love closed out the main set before the band returned to the stage, Been atop his bass cabs, to give the crowd Ninth Configuration and Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘n’ Roll (Punk Song). Apparently cutting it very close to the 11pm noise curfew, they shook their heads in (mock?) disbelief and finished off with an almost Who-like tipping over of the drums as they left the stage.
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – photo by Klowe Photography

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are the kind of band you immerse yourself in like a dark shadow. An all-encompassing black cloud of serious noise that shakes your soul and sends your senses screaming for the nearest exit whilst simultaneously yearning for more. A dark and addictive substance that this reviewer for one can’t wait to get another fix of.

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