Marisa and the Moths / The Old Cold Store @ the Vat & Fiddle / Nottingham
Venue: The Old Cold Store @ the Vat & Fiddle - Nottingham
Lineup: Marisa Rodriguez (Lead vocals/guitar), Liam Barnes (Bass guitar), Jason Wilson (Drums), Sophie Lloyd (Lead guitar) & Chris Merton (Guitar)
Marisa and the Moths (MATM) is the brainchild of Marisa Rodriquez, and in early 2017 Marisa began working with Liam Barnes who she had known for years on the Reading music scene. By April 2018 the band had played their debut show at the Are You Listening? festival in Reading. Since then, the band have gone from strength to strength, and have developed a loyal core following.
In September 2019 the band released their first single 'Skin' from their self-titled debut album, which was released in November 2019. Since then, the band have release two further singles in 'Slave' and 'Needy'.
The show at the Old Cold Store marked the opening night of MATM’s album release tour, and judging by last night’s performance, music fans around the country are in for a real treat in the coming weeks.
It has to be said right off the start…….. Marisa has a simply incredible voice. Powerful with exceptional tonal control and a fantastic range, it marks out Marisa’s singing as something to be experienced. Everyone has different views on what makes a great singer, and there are many super talented female rock vocalists …... For me, the biggest compliment I can pay to Marisa, is that her voice reminds me so much of the super talented Julianne Regan from All About Eve. Indeed, parts of some of the songs very much reminded me of All About Eve not just because of the vocals but with their style, such as the early parts of ‘How Did You Get So Weak’. The end result though is simply stunning.
But MATM are not a one trick pony. Far from it, they are not reliant on just having a great singer…… they simply ooze talent in every department, strong drumming from Jason, powerful basslines from Liam and brilliant guitar playing from the incredibly talented duo of Sophie and Chris. The song writing is as exceptional as the technical execution and overall the band produce a flawless, highly polished, friendly and enjoyable show.
The show kicked off with ‘69’ before they launched into ‘Easy Target’ which initially lulls you with its slow introduction, before hitting you like a powerful wrecking ball. Next up we were rewarded with the track ‘Human’ with its strong drum rhythms and powerful sing-along vocals and some exceptional guitar work from Sophie, which led straight into ‘Slave’ (as it does on the album) Once again Marisa’s exceptional vocals in the early part reminded me of Julianne, using the same ability to shift between soft and gentle and thunderously powerful.
Classic rock riffs welcome us into ‘Look What You’ve Done’ backed by wonderful punchy snare drums. Less intense in this one, somehow Marisa’s quieter tones here are subtle and yet menacing at the same time. Next we had my favourite track from the album ‘How Did You Get So Weak?’ a real tour de force mixing exceptional vocals with heavy riffs and even heavier bass lines. A real treat for the ears….. Soft, yet powerful.
‘Choke’ follows with a beautiful slow introduction, that builds and builds, before unleashing the full fury of the chorus on you with its powerful guitar riffs. Then we were treated to ‘Tied Up’ with its exceptional and beautifully crafted textures, before the pace slowed down for ‘Everything is Going Swimmingly’ with its moving and emotional vocals, perhaps the highlight of the night (on a night of many musical highlights !). Their most recent single ‘Needy’ is next which leads into the final set song ‘Skin’ led by its the powerful booming bass.
The crowd were treated to an encore as the band played ‘Turn Off’, and the large crowd loved every second of the show, and were cheering for more at the end.
MATM are a band to watch in 2020. Their debut album, for me, has no weak points and is exceptionally well crafted. And this, is brilliantly transferred to the live shows. Energetic, vibrant, and brilliant, the crowd that made it to the opening night certainly were treated to a rare experience. Mark my words…. Watch out for Marisa and the Moths. If you get the chance to experience them live, grab it, you certainly won’t be disappointed. (tour dates below).
The self-titled CD is available on Spotify to stream, but it can also be bought here: https://marisaandthemoths.bandcamp.com/
The band are also working on a vinyl version, which should be available early May 2020. Check out the fans group on Facebook, or the bands website for updates: www.marisaandthemoths.com
Setlist: 69, Easy Target, Human, Slave, Look What You’ve Done, How Did You Get So Weak?, Choke, Tied Up, Everything is Going Swimmingly, Needy, Skin & Turn Off (encore).
Support was provided by Bastette. Led by the powerful voice of Caroline Kenyon, Bastette was launched in early 2019 in the North West. Delivering a wonderful mix of alternative, modern & sassy rock, Bastette has been described as a mix of Florence and the Machine and Halestorm.
During the performance Bastette delivers vocally with a solid performance, one minute the pop diva, and the next a sultry femme fatale, and supported by a talented group of musicians, they deliver a brilliant live experience not to be missed.
Setlist: Primal, Stand Back, Lover, Sunglass, Trainwreck, Faultline, Sick & Twisted, and Hunter.
Those that turned up early were also treated to a great performance by Crystalline. Crystalline are a five piece Cardiff based alternative rock band made up of Eva Mullen (Vocals), Amir Maleki (Guitar), Sion Harling (Guitar), Ed Thomas (Bass) & Elliott Packham (Drums). Drawing inspiration from bands such as Paramore, Yonaka and Sum41 they have developed a unique sound of their own.
