@alpaca.presents
by Brandon van der Berg @vdb.brandon
A very drunk man using a urinal and watching me wash my hands “Wash your hands! Wash your hands and then DRY THEM ON YOUR PANTS!” Me trying to match his energy “I can’t wait brother, doing it right now!” He followed an informing tale of ‘how the second windowless door to the toilet was removed’ with a delicate yelp of a thing. He formed words that stay in my head as something to not only be remembered, but should be taught across academic institution and toilet enthusiasts the like. Him “YOU CAN SEE TREE’S WHILE YOU P*SS AHAHA” Indeed, you could see straight through the door window, across the whole venue, through an outside window and across the road adjacent to The Louisiana with not a small amount of viewing space. Thank you, excited drunk man, you have served this country well. Laura Jazmyn Watching Laura Jazmyn is like having a slow sip out of a water bottle, before your friend claps on the other end and almost drowns you. Back to the crowd before a slight turn, slowly revealing that ardent cry. Dishevelled from passionate fits of something between self-displacing rage, total vulnerability and a level of dance that most of us don’t have. In those moments where she is holding someone accountable, she makes us feel like that someone who has wronged her. Like we are the guilty. She’s taking reparations from the crowd in a stage-like rebellion to the binary of happy/sad songs you here constantly and with that imperium of raw strength, you feel excited about it. Those highs are ridden out like her uvula is revving, her face shot still and body leant into it as if she’s keeling over from exhaustion but still holds that perfect note and then she switches. Brushes it off, smiles and gently laughs like your friend who says they can’t draw before scribbling down a work of art and being like “Eh”. For Fans of Joy Crookes and Amy Winehouse. Find her on Instagram or Spotify Last One Home A frail digital echo of a voice “The show is about to begin, The show is about to begin”. Over an ambient string of electronic swells, it was like the directors of “The Divergent” series partnered up with a pilot announcement speaker and the Halo games to cultivate what is probably the most impactful use of a backing track in a live performance I’ve ever seen. Seriously, that low down guitar IN the backing track before you all crash into that first song hit like a motherf*cker. Damn good. “Ladies and Gentleman, Jimmy Neutron on the bass!” You know those videos of drunk girlfriends atop the shoulders of drunker boyfriends at festivals you see, they’re screaming the lyrics back, hair being caught in that typhoon of beer vapour and speaker upthrust. Last One Home are a band built for that. It's a festiv’olic menagerie of polished pop rock. With horrendously thick harmonies seeping from the backing tracks lifting everything up and a seriously tight set, this is one for those who like the more commercial side of live music with great hooks and great jackets. Although I think with a bigger stage presence it would have had a slightly bigger hit of engagement, but with such a heavy focus on the successful technical perfection of what’s on their plate it doesn’t leave you wanting. For Fans of Sea Girls and Crystal Tides. Find them on Instagram or Spotify Hunny Buzz Lydia – “There was quite a lot of competition today because of ‘Cold Play’ in Cardiff-“ A very drunk someone “WE WANT HUNNY BUUUUUZZZZ” This is a 4-piece of entirely separate vibes. Ewan bassist comically miming the words or making faces to members of the crowd an arms-length away from the more serious delivery of Lydia Frontwomen reminds me of my brother trying to make me laugh at dinner as a kid, it’s really wholesome and reliably charismatic. Rowan Lead Guitar uncannily resembles Kurt Cobain and the way he straightens his body and relaxes his neck to allow for his very pronounced facial expression driven nods are something that lend itself very well to the rockstar’ness of it all. Last but not least Bill drummer, is a nonchalant but organised performer and the side-bars for banter with Ewan make it feel very clique’ey. All coming together makes for 4 loveable main characters for some developed entertainment and emotional relatability wherever you look. Another very drunk someone half way through their set “ENCRE!!” They were only half way through. They lean towards the drama of losing yourself in how you feel, how you really feel. Stories of love, loss and the embrace of nostalgic regret. They fill you with that sombre hope and electrify it with classic indie goodness. “What do we want?” “Low flying airplane noises!” “When do we want them?” “Now!” *Imitates low flying plane* The smiles and gestures between them really stand out to welcome you in to some family or inside joke, you feel familiar and warmly met. The music is like a busy dream. Noisy and smooth and with a devoted delivery, it makes for a great night, which is evident when the audience were practically entertaining themselves with either chanting the various band names or light-hearted and well received heckling and if you’re wondering if it reached that ever distant back of the crowd. Yes. There was a party of 4 doing acrobatics amongst themselves for the duration of the set, going absolutely wild. Being very liberal with their drinks around all the electrics. But I say chin chin, a good electrical fire is an even better vibe. For Fans of Her’s and Lunar Vacation. Find them on Instagram or Spotify
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