Review: SLTP step it up a notch at JJM Studios gig
- Local bands SLTP, Hannks and The Drive played a Halloween special at JJM Studios on Friday 30th October
- Headliners SLTP are destined for bigger things, if this showing is anything to go by
No tricks tonight, just treats, as SLTP (Summer Loving Torture Party) headline Walsall’s JJM Studios’ Halloween Humdinger.
This was an evening that was possibly nearly twelve months in the making, thanks to track ‘Happy Halloween’ being penned by tonight’s headliners back in November 2014. However a lot has happened since then, with the release of single ‘Osaka’ in December and the self-titled EP in February followed by various support slot appearances in venues across Birmingham.
The Drive
Tonight’s show is opened by The Drive, who have been making all the right waves recently, including a support slot with Peace in August. Their performance took me back to the first time I witnessed Jaws back in 2012. Heads and feet were moving a plenty, potentially these lads have such a bright future and I am looking forward to bumping into them hopefully more over the next few months.
Hannks
Main support tonight was Hankks, who will probably be remembered for the wrong reason. The cover of Daniel Bedingfield’s ‘Gotta Get Through This’ was simply magical, as was the fancy dress banter between band members. But truthfully everyone needs to listen to track ‘Stepping Stone’ a possible future dancefloor filler, and for a band who have been together for less than six months, wow.
SLTP
With a setlist of mainly new songs, SLTP seem to have changed their approach, emotion cries out lyrically, lead vocalist Connor Christie really does seem a man with a purpose (even in his Mario fancy dress outfit), who one moment is barging erratically around the stage then the next, has his head in his hands sitting on the floor. It is as if nothing makes sense but feels natural at the same time, echos of Wilco and Radiohead come to mind, I’d imagine Thom Yorke would be proud.
SLTP
With the new material out the way, SLTP hope to use the evening as a stepping stone to better things – plans of new releases and more shows are in the pipeline. It will interesting to see where the next few months takes them.
Photographs by Jonathan Morgan
View the full set here.
