Music > Live Reviews
Mama Oh No
Norwich Arts Centre
06/09/23
It’s hot and muggy on this Friday evening in the city as I make my way along St Benedicts Street to the Norwich Arts Centre. It’s always a pleasure coming to this unique venue and tonight I’m sure will be no exception. Celebrating being signed to HMV’s 1921 record label along with their soon to be released debut album ‘Mamasaurus’. Norfolk based Mama Oh No are here ready to put on their headline show.
It starts tonight with the first support act of the evening, fellow HMV compadres, Ziggarettes. They walk onto a decorated stage of sunflowers with a framed picture of actor Pedro Pascal, so without even hearing a note I’m already liking this band. The 4 piece go through their fun set of indie punk rock and it’s clear to see these guys are out here to enjoy themselves. This energy certainly transmits to the crowd who are also having a good time watching them. Most notable when we all join in for a big sing along to their cover version of Weezer’s ‘Say It Ain’t So’. Sunflowers are handed out to those lucky enough to receive them and there is a moment of appreciation for the star of ‘The Last Of Us’. It’s playful and goofy but I’m all for it and as their enjoyable performance comes to a close I have a better idea as to why they dub themselves ‘Your new favourite dream pop band’.
Ziggarettes
Temperatures are high inside the NAC so I make a quick trip to the bar and get ready for the London based four piece, Sweet Giant. It’s their first time playing in Norwich and having already taken the London live circuit by storm, I’m excited to see what they have in store for us. They take to the stage dressed in clothes that look like they belong in a 1970’s classic americana movie. This isn’t just a fashion choice though as there is a real sense of authenticity once their set kicks off. As were treated to a nostalgic, twangy, roots rock sound that at the same time manages to sound fresh and new. They play their EP title track ‘Til Your blue’ and I feel like I’m sitting behind the wheel of an old convertible Cadillac, adventuring carefree down the Californian coastline of the pacific coast highway.
Sweet Giant
Lead singer and guitarist, Annie Needham has an endearing stage presence and captivates us all with her powerful vocals during the chorus of ‘Out To Nowhere’. Brought together by a shared love of the wild side their undeniable chemistry is on full display tonight for us all to see. The desert rock hooks keep coming along with infectious bass lines until we pause for a brief moment with a guitar change. To keep us entertained during this technical break we are treated to some quirky synth sounds and merch plugs. A solid move as plenty of t-shirts are sold because this Norwich crowd has loved every minute of the magical journey Sweet Giant has just taken us on. I very much hope to see them play the city again soon.
Sweet Giant
It’s main event time and the lights go down signaling the imminent arrival of our headliners this evening, Mama Oh No. There is a real sense of anticipation and excitement amongst the large crowd gathered here tonight. Which is confirmed by the loud cheer the 4 piece soulful rock band receives as they hit the stage. With members from both England and Denmark they appear more than ready for the occasion. We’re straight away treated to the irresistible stunning vocals of lead singer and guitarist Jack Gascoigne . He said in an interview last year “I think what makes our music so different from others out there is my voice (Without blowing my own trumpet) and our focus on evoking emotions’. I’m only a few songs in but it’s hard to disagree with that answer as his beautiful haunting howl on the bluesy emotive track ‘Ghost’ is testament to this.
MAMA OH NO
I also love the way the sparkling and jangly 50’s guitar chords work effortlessly with the delicious soulful harmonies that Mama Oh No are treating us to. Tordi, the younger sister of frontman Jack, is on keyboard and backing vocals. She brings a 60’s retro space age sound to the tracks and at times I feel like Im no longer in Norwich but rather lost in the Nevada desert. Joined by Hunter S Thompson surrounded by talking reptiles as we lose our grip on reallity. The band take a moment to thank us for coming out and refer to our city as a beautiful serene town. This goes down well with the crowd who are fully immersed as we take a trip to the bluesy Louisiana swamps on The Doors esque ‘Four Leafed Clover’.
MAMA OH NO
The brilliant 50’s and 60’s soul rock continues on in cinematic fashion with ‘I Wanna Love Ya’ followed by ‘Take Away The Hurt’ and ‘Going Home’. Im in awe of Jack, Simon, Eli and Tilda as their performance is so accomplished that it seems hard to believe they formed only just 4 years ago. The set comes to a close with ‘Apalachi’ and the band leaves the stage but not for long. Im surrounded by loud chants of “One more song!” that immediately break out from the ravenous crowd and Mama Oh No are more than happy to comply. Stepping back out and finishing the evening off with the feel good surf vibes of ‘Don’t Be Shy’. One last huge cheer and the crowd starts to disperse back into the warm evening streets of the city. I leave feeling grateful to have been there for a truly special performance and have no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before we see them on the stages of big festivals around the country.
MAMA OH NO