King Tut’s 30/11/18
Bad Sounds are weird. They are offbeat, unorthodox, and their live shows are a concoction of all this inherent individuality. Originating from Brixton, brother’s Ewan and Callum Merrett are accompanied by all the other bits and pieces of Bad Sounds, bassist Charlie Pitt, guitarist Sam Hun, and Olivia Dimmery on drums. After the brother’s lifelong dedications to making and exploring their own music, and a chaotic and fast paced past few years of writing, releasing, and touring, the band have a critically acclaimed debut album under their feet.
Their live shows (and I use the word show very deliberately) are immaculately thought out, 60-minutes-a-piece performances fraught with energy and funk-laden indie pop, with a genuine, tangible talent that is arguably the most impressive thing to take from all that’s going on. Opening in an almost pantomimic style, with a sole glowing light bulb illuminating the stage, which is decked out in the bands signature red, orange and yellow banners, a booming voice lures the room in with an elusive ask; “Do you want to get better?”, an allude to their album title. Get Better is a record that oscillates around mental health issues, the struggles of simply getting along and manoeuvring through life, without taking itself too seriously. Their vision translates into their performances with ease. They burst on stage in red boiler suits and yellow beanies (even the sound engineer dons the requisite uniform) and tackle their hour-long set, which seems mighty and challenging on paper, but in practice seems to fly past, a colourful riot of high energy, technically tight and vocally impressive songs, which had a sold-out King Tuts pulsing from start to end.
Opening with firm fan favourite and single ‘Wages’ aptly set the tone for the evening, a raucous and upbeat anthem, but even the softer and more heady notes from their album, such as the emotive ‘Thomas is a Killer’, still had the crowd enthralled and lively as ever. Bad Sounds’ deliberate and mature approach to creating and executing their vision for their album and their subsequent tour, is what sets them apart from the multitude of young new bands emerging by the minute. It is what allows their live shows to be as wild and positive as they are, as serious and choreographed, while still remaining fluid and organic and wholeheartedly fun. Their tour comes to a close this month, and if you didn’t catch them this time around, be sure to keep an eye out in the coming year.
[Ellie Brady – @bradyellie7]
Find the interview with them here.
qmunicatemagazine.com 