BK & Dad, Girl in a Thunderbolt at The Owl Sactuary, plus Cave-In at Jurnets Bar, Norwich, 18 April 2015
For Record Store Day there was a gig of much power held at The Owl Sanctuary. I arrived with about ten minutes to spare before Girl in a Thunderbolt took to the stage. I’ve seen Maria solo many times but was anxious to hear this new incarnation of the band, augmented to a five piece (with BK&Dad’s Pip on drums) the sound was indeed much fuller, very powerful, very loud and hugely impressive. Within 30 seconds of the first song I knew I was going to love this and so I did. There’s still some trademark repetitions and building layer upon layer but now the sound is just so BIG with two guitars, bass, drums and keys. It’s only their second gig and I can’t wait to see where this format takes them.
Girl in a Thunderbolt
(c) shashamane
Maria explained, and apologised for, her “horrendous chest infection” but didn’t allow it to affect her performance which was strong, mesmerising and compelling and Maria has a unique, special voice. A must-see Norwich band.
(c) shashamane
(c) shashamane
(c) shashamane
(c) shashamane
She has a new EP out at the moment, Own Your Bones, available on retro cassette and download from http://www.girlinathunderbolt.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
I must have still been in a trance after her set as I somehow mistakenly bought the CD album I already own instead of the EP I thought I was buying!! I can’t quite believe I did that, though I have at least successfully previously downloaded the EP.
Pip, after a short break, was back onstage again for a set by the mighty BK & Dad, one of my favourite bands in the city. They played with their usual power and intensity to a good-sized and clearly impressed crowd. No projections this time but that didn’t take anything away from the all immersive experience of this duo live. They make such a powerful, glorious sound … some of if quite extraordinary. If metal fatigue in deep space makes a sound – this is what it sounds like.
BK & Dad
(c) shashamane
BK & Dad
(c) shashamane
I left shortly after they finished, missing the final band, to catch the tail end of the monthly Cave-In night at Jurnets Bar. Wherever one sits in the lower bar the sound is great and the film visuals and oil projections just stunning and so fitting the mood of these great events. On a night when there appeared to be even more things happening than usual it was perhaps not so surprising that the evening here apparently started a little thin on the ground but it seemed to be filling nicely by the time I took my place to sit and watch and listen as the dancefloor became fuller and fuller. Superb events.
(c) shashamane
(c) shashamane
I bumped into a friend on the way back so caught up for a while at nearby Bedfords and then at Bar Tapas (meeting BK&Dad every step of the way!) both of which were also full with dancing aplenty at Bar Tapas as usual. Norwich is just great! It is indeed ‘Music City UK’ as we have taken to calling it amongst friends 🙂
Many thanks to BK&Dad, Girl in a Thunderbolt, Cave-In, Bedfords Bar, and Bar Tapas.
words and photos (c) richard shashamane 2015
@RShashamane
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http://www.theowlsanctuary.net/
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Norwich: Music City, UK 