Music / Reviews
Review: Gloom Index, Crofters Rights – ‘Journey into a dark, dark world’
After a break from gigs around Christmas I was more than happy to get back to it and what better place than Crofters Rights.
In a world where independent venues are struggling and many failing it was good to see lots of people willing to head out on a cold night in January to support two local acts.
First up tonight is Eveline armed with her laptop for backing, she has Bristol legend Emily Breeze watching in the wings as she takes to the stage. The crowd seems full of friends who woop her on stage and woop between songs.
is needed now More than ever
Eveline delivers heart on sleeve lyrics with strength and vulnerability in equal measures. With Sin is a perfect example of this her voice takes centre stage where it belongs as a quiet attentive crowd hangs on every word.
Inadequate sees Eveline’s heart-stirring vocals sore over a looping bassline as the crowd fills up but stays silent to take it all in. I can see why Gloom Index had Eveline as support as it sets the mood and tone for what is to come perfectly.
The room seems suitably filled with gloom and expectancy with some people even dancing in the break between bands. Singer Rosie May flits between the crowd in the break offering an Order Of Service complete with set list and its very own QR code linking to their upcoming EP, I Guess and Fear. This band means business.
The lights go down, off even, for the arrival of Gloom Index. In front of me, four fans take their place and shine torches on the band to lift us from the gloom of a completely dark room.
We are at a vigil and singer and guitar magician Lewis Weyman is taking us on a journey into a dark, dark world as he reads To A Mouse, a poem by Robert Burn. His voice is as deep as the words and the deepest cave you can ever imagine.
It’s a dramatic and slightly problematic start as sound issues are swatted aside with humour and the help of the brilliant sound desk. Gloom Index create a rich intricate wall of sound as drumbeats and vocals are recorded live on stage and looped to provide layer after layer to their sound.
The Looming takes things up a notch building and building a mood of impending doom and beauty. The songs move effortlessly as if feels the set could be performed without gaps as it flows.
Weyman’s guitar flashes red in the light as he uses it as an expensive scratching machine early in the set as Rosie’s bass crunches providing a perfect contradiction to her tender ear-catching vocals as they swoop and grab our attention.
There is a place stage right for a big wooden frog drum, which sits proud and excites people around me. Alligator Wine sees the crowd being asked to make animal noises.
It feels like I’m in a Tom Waits dream making a Meow and barking noise in a dark room with strangers, a very enjoyable odd moment for everyone involved. Lewis lets rip with a bluesy riff , there’s no need for an encore here.
I’ll look forward to the imminent release of their new E.P on February 26 and more live shows to follow I hope.
Everyone needs Gloom Index in their life.
Main photo: Jon Barrett
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