Mallory Knox, Blitz Kids and Crooks 21/11/13 @ Coventry Kasbah
2013 was
truly a killer year for Mallory Knox.
Since the release of critically acclaimed debut album Signals all the way back in January, they’ve been busy, becoming
festival regulars and BBC Radio 1’s new
infatuation which resulted in gaining a lot of air time with their fantastic
single Lighthouse. The Signals tour was an early Christmas present and a brilliant
end to the year as I caught them in Coventry, a couple of nights before they
jetted off to Australia for Warped Tour and koala bears.
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| ‘Studio tomfoolery’: Taken from Chapman’s Instagram @mikeykn0x |
The feeling
you get when you walk into a gig venue creates a special buzz and a unique one
at that. The excitement in the air is always noticeable, and this has never
been more the case than before a Mallory Knox concert. I’ve had the privilege
to have seen them twice before, at Slam Dunk Festival and at another local
festival, and knew the night would not disappoint. Having only seen them at
festivals, I was excited to experience the band in a more intimate venue such
as The Kasbah in Coventry, and even more so considering it was one of the
tour’s sold out shows and I knew the vibe would be phenomenal.
After what
felt like a several hours long wait, the doors finally opened and the crowd
rushed into the small room which filled to the seams in the space of minutes.
As the lights dimmed the first support, Crooks,
took to the stage. They are an energetic five-piece and this energy rubs off on
the crowd, enticing a few dancers and head-bobbers. Vocals are obscured and are
slightly disappointing on a whole but this could be put down to the venues
acoustics and the raucous instrumentals and riffs which seem to grasp the venue
intensely, and at times, it feels slightly overpowering. Nevertheless, the
crowd give a positive response to the band and fan girls scream with pleasure
as lead vocalist Joshua Rogers inquires on whether the crowd are having a good
time.
Next on to
support are Nantwich/Crewe based band Blitz
Kids, a band that are well on their way to becoming seasoned veterans
compared to the younger lads playing tonight as they have been storming the
rock-front since ’06. Lead singer, Joe James, displays confidence and has great
stage presence and energy, managing to move around the small stage and speaking
with the crowd. James’ confidence is proven to not be a complete front, as the band
manages to deliver a good set, succeeding in getting the crowd pumped for the
much-anticipated headliners of tonight: Mallory
Knox.
Wasting no
time, the Cambridge quintet instantly have the crowd enthralled as they blast
anthems from Signals and they don’t let it drop for the next 70 minutes.
Incredibly, one of the most striking things about Mallory Knox is not the
volume they’re capable of reaching but the razor sharp, tight timing and
precision they perform with. Having spent most of this year performing
festivals across countries in and supporting bands such as Don Broco and Canterbury,
the band have certainly learned a thing or two about pleasing the audience; as
they treat us to a brand new, ‘secret’ song that has the crowd excited for what
is to come this year (Mallory Knox are currently in the studio) and also churn
out some of the old favourites from their debut EP Pilot. Oceans has the
biggest reception, with the crowd screaming ‘and can you feel me dreaming of you’ to the delighted, sweating
faces of the band. Death Rattles wins the awards as far as crowd-participation
goes with the heartfelt ‘woah-ohs’ which are sure to create dozens of sore
throats in the crowd. But it is impossible to out-sing the lead singer, Mikey Chapman who rams effortlessly through
the 14-song set without a flaw. Singing his heart out through tales of life,
love, friendships and betrayal, the band certainly strike a chord with the
audience. Arms were waved, the crowd bounced and sang and mosh pits were formed
left right and centre as the crowd fed off the bands incredible energy.
The band then
showed a sensitive side as Chapman proceeded to calm and talk to the crowd,
calling out for lovers and friends to hold each other and sway through the melancholic
track 1949. Emerged in a sea of waving arms, the emotions triggered by this
song were evident. The tenderness of 1949 provided a gentler, sweeter moment
midway through the set which was then blown away with the impressive vocals in
the preceding song Wolves and, at the heart of it all, Dave Rawling’s drums, laying a foundation for chunky guitar riffs
from Joe Savins and James Gillet and throbbing bass from Sam Douglas.Mallory Knox definitely deserved the eventful and successful year of 2013 and their hard work has been recognised as they have been nominated for Best British Newcomer of 2013 in the upcoming Kerrang! Awards. Moreover, Ourzone magazine awarded them Best British Act of 2013, third in Best Album and second in ‘Who Will Own 2014’.
With the band in the studio, we will soon see if they really are the ones who own 2014 and after experiencing them live I do not doubt it one bit…
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