It’s got to be said, February has been pretty dreary. But tonight in Manchester, the line up at Band on the Wall is worth dragging yourself out for. We have an Irish double header, one well known, one not so. The sold out show put on through local promoters Now Wave has all the makings of one for the history books.
Opening are youngsters Makeshift Art Bar, but do not let their boyish looks fool you, these guys are not messing around. Fresh on the release of their debut EP Lacklustre Writing Makes Fundamental Reading in January, the four piece through distorted shapes, make disjointed actions and tie these to grating tones and droving bass. The inclusion of a lap steel could put some of, but their use of the instrument to make waves of undulating sound below the main focus only adds a depth to their sound that some three times their age lack. Its used almost as a siren at times. An enticing proposition to be watched closely.
Headliners Chalk are not a new name, yet they are still (criminally) relatively unknown. The trio made up of Ross Cullen, Benedict Goddard and Luke Niblock, are originally from Dublin but met during film school at Queen’s University, Belfast. They released Them in March 2022, winning Steve Lamacq’s career-launching RoundTable on cult BBC 6Music. Debut EP Conditions was released in March 2023, Conditions II in March 2024 and this tour comes hot on the heels of Conditions III, released last month. None of their recorded stuff comes close to capturing the live version, so it is no surprise, but great to see, they are selling out dates across this tour.
Their blistering set is nothing short of breathtaking, they barely let the foot off the gas from start to finish and the energy that exudes from the stage is infectious. Early on they include the stunning ‘Static’ with its rolling riffs and pulsating beat that draws you in whether you want to or not; they move into new offering ‘Tell Me’ which has a more electronic countenance, encouraging the dancing pit that has taken hold already to really let go. We then go back in time to ‘The Gate’ which always goes down well live with its wall of sound smacking you in the face, to a second EP double header with ‘Claw’ and ‘Bliss’, two tracks which are quite removed yet work perfectly in unison. The second half of the set has all the big hitters with the intoxicating combination of ‘Asking’, ‘Them’ and ‘Velodrome’ before the modern ‘Born Slippy’, ‘Conditions’ (give it a listen if unfamiliar, you won’t regret it). A perfect ending to it all really.
If you don’t know the name Chalk, go and listen to them now, and see them live as soon as possible. They won’t be playing small venues much longer, that sound could fill stadiums.
