Helping to melt away those midweek blues, we find ourselves at Love Rarely’s album release show. This Big Scary Monster showcase, co-hosted with Slam Dunk promises an evening of new blood that deserves to be cast onto everyone’s radar. It’s been four weeks since the release of their debut album Pain Travels, and with such a positive reception to their hard work, there’s no better way to celebrate than to get up close and personal with the fans. Squeezed into the rafters of one of London’s more intimate venues, The Grace, and under a sprawling canopy of disco balls. Those lucky enough to snap up a ticket begin to pack out the room in time for the night to get underway.
Sunday Best
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Opening tonight’s show on an unexpected blend of new wave emo and post-hardcore, and clearly a well known name for those huddled down the front from early on, London locals Sunday Best take the reigns with little hesitation, showcasing recent singles from their debut mix tape (Death & Divinity, Vol 1). With an eclectic array of tracks bringing spoken word, harsh fry vocals, and some more pop punk moments into the mix – there’s a bit of everything brought into this enthusiastically dynamic performance. High energy and engaging from the jump, vocalist Alex Ekong makes light work of whipping the crowd into a delighted frenzy. Complete with the moves for much bigger stages, and an audience participation bingo card swiftly completed (it’s always fun to see the foundations of a venue tested when the full capacity join in for a good old fashioned ‘crouch down – jump’ up ala Slipknot), our evening’s icebreakers leave our onlookers energised and hungry for more.
MISHIKUI
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Continuing the post-hardcore theme, and no strangers to sharing a bill with our openers, are resident grungers MISHIKUI. Slipping onto the stage with an array of raw, Title Fight shaped bangers, and a vast appreciation of the musical company around them ends up fully mirrored by the crowd reception. From rolling out the heavy hitters from their self titled EP, as well as recent single ‘Lavender’, frontman and guitarist Harrison Middleton enthusiastically leaps between supercharged vocal grit, captivating guitar hooks, and ensuring those involved in tonight’s show gets their recognition. The mixture of hulking distortion, along with the celebration of everyone getting their flowers is intoxicating, just in time for our headliners to make an appearance.
Love Rarely
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Expectations are high, and rightly so. Tonight’s performance is fully sold out, with pundits clamouring for admission across the socials leading up to hours before the doors opening. As the groups second ever headline performance, it’s astonishing that Love Rarely aren’t yet a household name, especially considering the level of finesse to their output. Being present this early into their career feels like you’ve snuck into a private party, reserved exclusively for their nearest and dearest. Having cut their teeth on a wide array of prior tours, and ready to warm up for this year’s coming festival circuit (that sees them at 2000 Trees, Burn It Down and Truck Festival), the Leeds based math rockers are immediately greeted by a sea of applause and cheers from front to back of the room.
Opening the set with a trio of firm fan favourites (singles ‘Whiplash’, ‘Mould’ and ‘Severed’) energises the crowd further with their trademark guitar technicality and abundant hooks. Vocalist Courtney Levitt, complete with ceremonial war paint can barely stay still in one spot, boosted by the crowd and the sheer energy of the band. To honour this milestone, we’re treated to almost their entire back catalogue this evening, with their set list frequently revisiting their self-titled EP, to the excitement of those day one followers. Both ‘And You Know It’ and ‘Say Yes’ are received with a roar of gratitude, while newest single ‘Haunted’ is greeted with raised arms and memorised lyrics.
As the set sees us out with album closer ‘Through Families’, and the monumental ‘P.A.F (Outro I)’, (of which leaves the group grinning from ear to ear, and the crowd mostly airborne), it’s abundantly clear that this evening serves akin to a graduation. A masterclass in live performance, and commemoration of the group’s hard work and efforts so far, surrounded by those excited to support and appreciative of their golden ticket. Leeds’ best kept secret are just getting started.