Music > Live Reviews

EAT YOUR OWN HEAD, OTHER HALF & DR CLYDE

The Adrian Flux Waterfront

28/09/21

I was supposed to be going to see The Subways when they were originally scheduled to play downstairs but what am I supposed to do when that is rescheduled for the same night as three of my favourite local bands are playing upstairs in the Studio. Did I just say three of my favourite local bands? Scratch that, these are three of my favourite bands full stop. 

First up are DR CLYDE. The last time I saw this lot was in over three and a half years ago, when they played an acoustic(ish) set at Epic. Good as that was, tonight is a return to the electric blues-psych-post-punk-swamp-rock sound I know. It may have been a while since Dr Clyde last played but there is no sign of rustiness. Jasper’s vocals combine Tom Waits and The Fugs into a gloriously righteous holler. Musically, he, Joe and Connor somehow manage to bring to mind latter-day Wire jamming with Credence Clearwater Revival. Or maybe that is just my mind being blown by the set in general and brilliant close Sleep With The Light On in particular. Honest to god and I know it doesn’t have a lot of competition so far but that performance of that song is my highlight of live music in 2021.

I love OTHER HALF. I’ve spouted my barely coherent ramblings in praise of Cal, Sophie and Alfie at length in these pages previously so I’ll keep this short. This was the best set I’ve seen them play so far. Of course, there was still the barely controlled rage, they’ve always had. Helped by what I thought was a great sound, particularly in the vocal and bass departments, there was an added swing and groove. Just superb.

On the subject of sound, some of the people I spoke to after the show thought the sound was too bassy whilst others thought it was great. I was in the latter camp but hey, music is subjective. (Sorry Lee, if you’re reading this!)

And so to tonight’s hosts, EAT YOUR OWN HEAD (formerly known as HANK), have two very tough acts to follow. Nothing has changed on paper other than the name but there seems to be more variety in the dynamics, more melody, more contrast. Of all the bands on the Norwich scene, EYOH are quite probably the tightest and technically the best players. Virtuosity and technique can so often be overplayed at the expense of the songs. There is no risk of that here. The intense sound verges on math-rock and may be too technical and too heavy to be for everyone but EYOH have songs and very strong songs at that.

Maybe it is because we went for the best part of eighteen months without gigs but there is a sense of joy here tonight, despite the intensity of the music. All three bands enjoy themselves and the audience were well up for it too. The dancing and moshing was non-stop and I’m pretty certain everyone left with a smile on their face.