Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Friday November 22, 2013 :
The Drones playing at The Cambridge Hotel was a show I was very much looking forward to. Having the chance to get up close to a band I have been listing to heavily this year could not be passed up.
Prior to the show I had little knowledge of the support act besides a friend recommending that they are worth catching. That being said, Harmony absolutely blew me away! The leading member has a distinct vocal style which I instantly reccognised as the frontman of The Nation Blue (great band). Harmony filled the venue with a momentum that kept you on edge, perfectly assisted by the soaring harmonies from the bands three female vocalists. A very appropriate support act for The Drones.
I am not going to pretend I have been a long time fan of the Drones, I only discovered them this year with the release of I See Seaweed. I really don’t think this matters as it seems I have jumped on the wagon when they are at their very best.
Opening with the title track off the latest record, enigmatic front man Gareth Liddiard perfectly delivered the eery mood captured within the recordings. With the heavier parts of the song crushing through the speakers, almost knocking me over, it was obvious the band stack up to any expectation gloriously.
The next hour or so was like a best of from their back catalogue with a few tracks off the newest release in the mix, this showed their knack for portraying many moods. The night would not have been complete in my eyes without finishing with ‘Why write a letter…’. My wish came true with an encore performance complete with the three talented female vocalists from Harmony assisting. And all I can say is wow! What a way to end an amazing show.
Reviewer: Dan Coy
Photographer: Linda Wales
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