Review: Gang weave a spell on Sunflower Lounge crowd
- The Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham hosted Brighton-based Gang and their heavy psych rock
- Including a cover of Black Sabbath’s self-titled track, the headbanging crowd were hyptonised by Gang’s riffs
- Local bands Terror Watts and Youth Man provided support
When even the promoter can’t refrain from tearing off his shirt and rocking out by the front of the stage, you know the bands you’re watching aren’t the kind you’ll forget in a hurry.
The Terror Watts
Having played alongside each other at a Counteract gig the week before, The Terror Watts and Youth Man were effortless crowd pleasers. The former’s combination of garage rock and roll with crooning pop hooks is an easy sell. Loud and enlivened by a ramshackle energy, The Terror Watts’ frenetic onstage actions and unmistakable dexterity has already marked them out as favoured by promoters across the local scene. With engaging performances like this one, it shouldn’t be too long until their name becomes a little more widespread.
Youth Man
Breaking two thirds of their instruments two songs in, Youth Man were primed for destruction. Fighting each other and diving amidst the crowd mid-songs, the trio’s raucous antics showcased a raw power that remains unrivalled. Promoting new songs, and inviting the room to a music video shoot, everything seems to be powering forwards for the three-piece. With that much energy stockpiled behind them, it’s easy to see why. Inviting their producer, Ike, to the stage to play steel lap guitar for a Jefferson Airplane cover, Youth Man prove that they’re capable of turning their hand to just about anything.
Gang
Retaining the spotlight as headliners, Gang are at the top of their game. The Brighton trio mix rock and roll attitude with swirling psych, and it doesn’t take long for them to weave their spell upon the crowd. Swirling refrains flooded the room, vocals echoing engagingly over high-powered riffs.
Gang
Hypnotised into headbanging along, those gathered steadily lose their minds as the music takes hold. Breaking out a cover of Black Sabbath’s self-titled track, before being chanted back on stage for an encore, the three piece made their mark felt by all present.
Photographs by Paul Reynolds
