Drenge + TRAAMS + Kagoule, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 19/02/14
Drenge Since the release of their debut album last summer, Drenge have gone from strength to strength. Their sold out show at the Hare & Hounds in King’s Heath showed exactly how much dedication and excitement surrounds the favourite fraternal duo.
Kagoule Opening the show was Kagoule. The bands reverb-laiden vocals swimming amongst swirling refrains and infectious percussion held those gathered hypnotised where they stood. Drifting female harmonies provided a soft and sweet counterbalance to the bands rough and raging sound, layers of riffs flooding the room and enticing their audience closer to the brightly lit stage, whilst their set demonstrated an act with a ready-to-roll talent and a soaring potential.
TRAAMS TRAAMS put on a show that left the audience in a whirlwind of excitement. The bands unique grunge-infused sound may have been unfamiliar to the majority of the crowd, but it still left the room awash with enthusiasm. With raw vocals that had people hanging on to every word, and instrumental sections that left the room reeling, their energetic approach had the room packed like a can of sardines, and sold hook, line, and sinker.
From the second Drenge took to the stage, the venue was in uproar. Performing a set bursting with tracks that already feel like classics, the duo were primed to impress from their very first riff. And that’s exactly what they did. Album tracks, b-sides, and brand new songs all graced the setlist, each one leaving the crowd more eager and raucous than the last. Barely puttering a word between songs, the two-piece let their music do all the talking, and kept the room in a state of delirious array.
Drenge Favourites such as single ‘Nothing’ and the deliciously extended ‘Let’s Pretend’ showcased the songwriting talent that has earned the band so much praise so far, whilst the bands new material showcased the further strengths they look set to be about to unleash. The band revelled in their time under the stage lights, losing themselves in the music as much as – if not more than – the crowd gathered before them. Raw talent and epic enthusiasm combine and climax in this bands live shows. If you want to be truly blown away, Drenge are an act that should be high on any persons agenda. We wait with baited breath for the next time our paths are set to cross. Photographs by Andy Hughes
