Loveloudly Presents Wreck Age, Jessie Q and the Earthquakes at The Blueberry Music House, Norwich 9 April 2015

The Blueberry continues to host some amazing gigs and with lots of work down to a group of amazingly dedicated and talented individuals, this was another gem in a series of incredible gigs.

I was catching up with a friend before the gig, someone I’d not seen in several years and consequently missed the first band on tonight – Deaf Capes – but by all accounts they put on an impressive set and I hope I get another opportunity soon to catch them.

Jessie Q and the Earthquakes were just preparing to take to the stage when I arrived and once again this fascinating band put in a powerful and brilliant set. They now appear to be a guitarist down but an O’Linksi up, with Shane on keys (throughout the set he played whilst kneeling on the floor with the keyboard perched on a wooden chair) and their sound remains BIG and dark. Jessie is captivating as a frontsperson, prowling the stage Siousie-esque style, singing, howling, tossing her locks and just looking amazing, whilst Andy on guitar looks totally the part and definitely sounds it. I really love it when he wanders off the stage to check the sound from the audience’s vantage point whilst still playing guitar amongst us. Mick on drums is a rock, steady and unflappably brilliant.

Jessie Q and the Earthquakes
(c) shashamane 2015

Jessie Q and the Earthquakes
(c) shashamane 2015

The transformation of the venue for these gigs is incredible, with monitors and amps and lighting making this feel like the proper rock gig it is, added to that a great sound guy and bands who can hear themselves everyone has a great time. The grimeyness of the Bluberry carpet perhaps takes the rock dungeon feel a bit too far though and the sooner the Blueberry management can get that replaced the better! 😉 Seriously though, there are great musical things happening here, every gig I seem to go to at the Blueberry lately has been an absolute cracker! I know some of the ones I have unfortunately not been able to be present at have been too.

And so onto the night’s headliners, Wreck Age. I can’t believe I did not know of them before tonight, they totally blew me away. A barefooted singer in Tommy who commands the stage with incredible charisma they feel like a fully formed band with the sound and the songs to match. Very garagey rock n roll, I loved them. Tommy is one moment strutting the stage like a mixture of Mick Jagger/Iggy Pop whilst the band power out song after song until they have exhausted their entire repertoire, though they did play a highly credible and superb cover of Joy Division’s Shadowplay. Elements of the Stooges, New York Dolls, MC5, Stone Roses, and even Temples I cannot wait to see them play again, a total delight and at the time it truly felt like a “moment”. We had a few encore songs and the audience were absolutely pleading for more but the band had played everything they had!

Wreck Age
(c) shashamane 2015

Thanks so much to everyone involved in getting these gigs together and of course all the bands. There’s something special happening here, be a part of it.

Monsterous loud loveliness (all for FREE), possibly with homemade pies although this cannot be confirmed at this time. Ales and bar snacks definitely available (not for FREE)

WRECK AGE
classy pounding raucous raw power 4-piece. i don’t think they wanna be your dog…
http://wreck-age.bandcamp.com/

DEAF CAPES
my favourite band that i’d never heard of before they got booked for this, you heard them here first – maybe…
http://deafcapes.bandcamp.com/

JESSIE Q AND THE EARTHQUAKES
witchy wizzardy spellbindy postpunkadelic misfitz
recordings on the way but no bandcampy soundcloud links yet but check event page below for vidclipz…

photos and video (c) all rights reserved Shashamane, 2015

http://shashamane.flavors.me/

http://wreck-age.bandcamp.com/

http://deafcapes.bandcamp.com/

http://www.theblueberrymusichouse.com/

http://www.shashamane.etsy.com

http://www.facebook.com/NorwichLiveMusicPhotos

http://www.facebook.com/ShashamaneArtPhotography