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Review: Chalk, Strange Brew – ‘Pure passion and power throughout’
Friday Night was Irish night at Strange Brew as Belfast band Chalk hit Bristol, with Dublin trio Yard in support, as part of their Conditions tour.
Yard’s electropunk perfectly complements Chalk’s sound, transporting you to 2am in a dark nightclub where the beat is heavy, fast and incessant. I can clearly see their comparisons with Fat Dog and Death Grips.
Singer Emmet White screams crystal-clear rhythmic mantras, immersed and contorting within the ferocious noise Yard makes. The energy is high and many have their dancing shoes on.
is needed now More than ever
When a band is this intense I can’t help but be sucked into their world. I’ll be sure to check them out at Old Market small venue bonanza Outer Town festival on April 12.
Yard: intense, ferocious electropunk
The stage is cleared to make way for Chalk who take no time to get the crowd moving. It’s Nine Inch Nails, it’s Prodigy, It’s in-your-face techno-punk.
Luke Niblock creates a stomping noise on drums, like a finely tuned firework display, propelling the band’s energy and putting everyone on the front foot including the crowd.
Bliss makes the crowd skip and encapsulates Chalk to a tee, melodic enough to dance to and angry enough to scream to. “I said dance, I said dance!” singer Ross screams, flailing arms as if swimming on his feet and demanding an already hyper-crowd move more.
Frontman Ross has the ability to both sing like an angel and sting like a bee
He’s a bundle, of punk rock anger – on the floor screaming, jumping, swinging the mic and entering the crowd – rarely standing still but for the more tender moments in the set. Chalk are very loud, but his voice has a tender quality, with the outstanding ability to sing like an angel and sting like a bee.
As he lets rip, the energy is reflected as a slippery pit forms and one hoisted fan dances tantalizingly close to the giant disco ball, all smiles no drama.
Guitarist Benedict Goddard flits between being a DJ and a guitar hero, looping beats and then jumping front of stage to give us the screeching solos.
There are no gaps for chats, no intros, just pure passion and power throughout. The set comes to a crashing end. I knew it would happen: I’m now a Chalk fan. They’ve got me.
All images: David Broome
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