Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., BK & Dad, Wreck Age, at The Owl Sanctuary, Norwich 14 October 2015

Acid Mothers Temple
shashamane 2015

Another to add to the list of the most moving gig experiences I’ve ever known with three top bands, headlined by the extraordinary Acid Mothers Temple at The Owl Sanctuary.

Just after 8pm was the first band of the night, the superb Wreck Age, fresh from their successful performance at the Arts Centre for NS&V at the weekend. Sounding tight and looking like they were loving and taking in every moment they played a storming thirty minute set including songs which have become familiar favourites to me, Ghost at the Feast, Five More Years, Ablution, Terrorising et al. as well as a blistering Shadowplay of course.

Wreck Age
(c) shashamane 2015

I love this band and the energy they give off, always great to see a band giving their all and “feeling it” buzzing off the energy from the audience and paying it back tenfold. I loved their camaraderie onstage too, friends bonded. Who knows what will happen in the future what with the personnel changes but they’ve built up some momentum and a head of steam, playing different venues to different audiences but going down a storm every time. Featuring a great drummer, a frontman oozing rock and roll, and one of the best guitarists in the city, as well of course as a bassist who has stepped in at short notice seemingly effortlessly and who evidently feels the vibe of the band too. It is to be hoped and encouraged that they carry on and build on this special thing they have created. Even the tour manager for Acid Mothers Temple made special mention of them during a chat a bit later in the evening. Tommy said that at times getting attention for the band had felt like “Pushing a refrigerator up a hill whilst wearing roller skates” and it’s true that somehow they’d gone under my radar until this year but when I first saw them at The Blueberry they totally blew me away and continue to do so. A genuinely exciting band who must continue and get heard by more people.

Wreck Age
(c) shashamane 2015

What more can I say about BK&Dad? A powerhouse talented duo with ferocious power but finesse and subtlety too, they look and sound the part, dark and powerful and always compelling. There was no space at the Owl to have their always superb visuals projected onto the back of the stage tonight but they are fascinating to watch just playing. Leo hunched over his guitar with a multitude of incredible effects with the unique Pip a blur of hair and drumsticks at the kit. Wonderful! I obviously wasn’t alone in thinking so, the room was rammed!

BK & Dad
(c) shashamane 2015

BK & Dad
(c) shashamane 2015

BK & Dad
(c) shashamane 2015

There was quite a lot of excitement for Acid Mothers Temple, a band I sadly missed on their last visit to Norwich, at Epic with BK & Dad. This gig too was also originally supposed to be at Epic but is another that had to be moved. It was The Owl’s gain though as there was a great atmosphere, a packed room with people having to be turned away at the door … and of course the musical magic!

Acid Mothers Temple
shashamane 2015

Looking like wizards they cast musical spells and I totally lost track of time. They could have been playing for twenty minutes or two hours for all I knew, epics running into each other it was truly magical and had quite a profound effect on a number of us in attendance. Not in a proggy way but more a kind of spiritual Floyd meet Hawkwind way, some oriental touches and as my good friend Adam observed, some krautrock too. Whatever musical magic they were creating touched everyone. The guitarist even sporting a left-handed guitar purchased in the fine city earlier in the day. One of my favourite gigs, certainly of the year, possibly ever.

Alas no encore, despite very loud and prolonged calls for one but I was told they simply don’t do encores. I think we came mightily close to getting one though and they certainly considered it. I didn’t mind though, the wizardry and beauty they provided in that set was enough to satisfy any of the lucky souls present.

The only thing that was a shame was that once again there were a number of gig-clashes but that’s so often the way in Norwich these days. #NorwichMusicCityUK

Acid Mothers Temple
shashamane 2015

Acid Mothers Temple
shashamane 2015

Next gig for me at the Owl is tomorrow (Friday 16th) for The Vagaband and Chad Mason.

More photos and video to follow …

Many thanks to Acid Mothers Temple and their crew, BK & Dad, Wreck Age, and The Owl Sanctuary.

words and photos (c) richard shashamane 2015

@RShashamane

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