Music > Live Reviews

Norwich Rock Fest Day One - CLT DRP, SLEEMO, DR CLYDE & JØRA THE FØRTUNETELLER

29/01/22

Taking over Voodoo Daddy’s for three nights, Drongo Records present the inaugural Norwich Rock Fest.

First up, it is local lads JØRA THE FØRTUNETELLER. It is less than six months since I first saw this lot and they have really grown from promising young rockers to a properly good band in that short time. Touring with Millie Manders & The Shut Up can only have helped with this. The band display a real confidence on stage.

The original songs mix verses that verge on alt.rock and grunge with classic heavy rock choruses and solos. The Beatles cover goes down a storm but their own songs are good enough that it isn’t exactly necessary. Damned fine ENTERTAINMENT. 

Next, it is everyone’s favourite psychboogierapswampbluesdubsurf rockers DR CLYDE. Well, if they’re not everyone’s favourite, they bloody well should be.

This is perhaps not the best set I’ve seen them play but it is certainly the heaviest and closer Sleep With The Light On is and will always be AMAZING. It is just a shame and, dare I say, a little disrespectful that Dr Clyde are still in stage when the by now de rigueur chants of Sleeeeee-mo began.

Of course, SLEEMO really are something special. I’ve written a lot about them for this site and there’s not a lot I can say without repeating myself. Billy has perfected that aching wail and quiet/loud guitar dynamic whilst Jacob and Jack provide thunderous drums and bass. Rabbit Run is an absolute riot, Bugs goes big on industrial grind and newie Dead Fish is an absolute stormer. 

To finish the evening, Brighton based CLT DRP take to the stage. A new one on me, this is storming electro-punk-industrial. Scott plays guitar that is fed through an absolute battery of pedals so that it no longer sounds like any guitar you’ve heard before. Daphne provides percussion that veers from hushed to clamorous. Singer Annie may be the electro-punk Self Esteem. The lyrics are at times confrontational, as up-front as Fever Ray in their sexuality. The music hints at Numan and Young Gods but, to these ears at least, has more in common with hip-hop’s experimental outliers Young Fathers, Death Grips, Ho99o9 or Bob Vylan. And by heck, it is good.

Now to recover in time for day two and the amazing St Pierre Snake Invasion, Eat Your Own Head, Jomo Tuun and Settlements….

P.S. sorry there are no pics of CLT DRP due to Mark's lens getting broke in the pit!!

Check out the full gallery HERE