The Anvil, Bournemouth
Tonight the Anvil plays host to the first of this weekend’s Music Venue Trust-backed gigs, the deal is you buy one ticket and a friend gets in for free; when you buy a National Lottery Ticket. Buying mine through the website cost just £9.50 including entry for my constant sidekick Ross and fingers crossed I have a chance to become a millionaire, or just the holder of a worthless piece of paper…..(and of course, I’ll let you know if I win). The line-up features highly rated alt/rockers with a distinct punk edge The Kut, along with Brighton duo Sons, and local debutants Opalites.
Opalites are a duo featuring local Bournemouth singer/songwriter Taya Minchington on bass and her guitar-playing sidekick Emily Howells. The duo despite the early start of 7:20pm has pulled quite a crowd and impress from the off with unique stylings created from a host of influences. With a good selection of original tunes, the duo shows off their combined creative abilities with plenty of impressive harmonies and well-put-together guitar/bass work. While Emily comes across a little shy and maybe initially nervous, Taya’s previous live experience is clear and she just oozes confidence with plenty of sassy shapeshifting.
A couple of crowd-pleasing covers including Wolf Alice’s “Mona Lisa Smile” and Royal Blood’s “Figure It Out” gives us an idea of some of their influences. We are treated to a new version of Taya’s solo single “whole” and a great track called “Cityscape”, where the girls have a dig at the current British Government for the lies they have been telling us. The final number “Mirror” shows Emily finally coming out of her shell and impressively taking on lead vocal on another original gem. The band get tremendous support from the Anvil crowd and hoped to play a Nirvana cover for an encore, but sadly there’s just not time as there is an early 10:15pm curfew tonight.
After a quick and efficient turnaround from in-house soundman Nick Scott, Brighton duo “Sons” take to the stage with little fuss or bravado. The band features the Meldrum brothers with Lee on guitar and Nick on drums, who make a huge imposing hard to ignore sound from the start. In virtual darkness with minimal lighting the band’s powerful wall of sound features an array of intense guitar effects, coupled with fiercely struck drums. The brothers share vocal duties on some impressive tracks including the dark riffed “Zealot” and persistently infectious “A Love Song?”. With them taking on board many different punk and grunge stylings they really provide some fine entertainment for the gathered crowd, who all have been treated to a fantastic highlight-filled set from two guys with masses of talent and plenty of future potential.
Princess Maha and her band The Kut are riding on the crest of a wave after recently signing a US distribution deal bringing the band and the entire Criminal Records Roster under the wings of a huge label, gaining them a potential new audience. The band has always supported grassroots venues and tonight’s gig and their tour is somewhat fitting within the spirit of the band. Kicking off with “I Don’t Need Therapy”; with Maha on Guitar/Vocals along with Alison Wood (Guitar), Hannah Aero (Bass), and Violet Stow (Drums) they show Bournemouth lots of energy and positive enthusiasm.
The band are gearing up for the release of their next album, which is set to be out sometime later on this year and we are treated to a few samples from this in the form of the feisty “If Looks Could Kill” and “Burn Your Bridges”. The band is certainly firing on all cylinders and really whip up the Bournemouth crowd’s level of excitement with a totally spirited no-nonsense performance. For those of you who have yet to experience the band live yet; imagine the essence of The Go Go’s with the strength and passion of bands like Hole and L7. Well-written songs with bright vocal harmonies, melodic guitars coupled with infectious rhythms.
The set comes to a close with the appropriately titled “And 1 More” and Maha invites a polite but careful stage invasion – about half a dozen fans oblige and join the band, showing off their dance moves. Maha stands on the bass drum and takes her plaudits from the well-entertained crowd. Though the music is over the band happily oblige the fans more time with meet and greets at the merchandise table to round their evening off in style. With festivals getting the green light once again this year, “The Kut” will be one of those bands looking to up their game and be on some of those bigger stages, increasing their audience.
Set Lists
The Kut
I Don’t Need Therapy
Animo
Hollwood Rock N Roll
I Am Vain
If Looks Could Kill
DMA
Not Here For Love
I Want You Maniac
Burn Your Bridges
Runaways (Staying Out For the Summer)
Bad Man
And 1 More
Sons
Natural
Cliche
Sweat
Zealot
A Love Song
Little Man
Reptiles
P.U.N.K
Opalites
Too Late
Worse for You
Mona Lisa Smile (Wolf Alice)
Rosaline
Figure It Out (Royal Blood)
Whole
Cityscape
Mirror
Videos
Links
https://thekut.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/sonsbanduk
https://www.facebook.com/opalites.official
Words & Media by David Chinery (Chinners)
Picture by Matthew Rayner.
