Catmilk / The Bodega / Nottingham
A trip into Nottingham and the fantastic Bodega, run by DHP. The Bodega is one of my favourite Nottingham venues. Small, but they focus on up and coming artists and it’s a great place to see some brilliant bands. Recently we’ve seen The Last Dinner Party, The Undercover Hippy and DVNE here. I was looking forward to the show tonight, and three local bands I’ve not seen before.
First up on stage we had the very talented Lily Clarkson. Sitting on a stool with her acoustic guitar she delivered a fine set of her own material. A beautiful voice, in the vein of the likes of Birdy the songs felt intimate and personal, and created a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed her set which set the scene for the night nicely, delicate and light – great stuff.
Next up we had Cracked Hands. The duo took to the stage with Tom Hooley on guitar and Milla Tebbs on vocals. A striking contrast as Tom is much taller than Milla who has a delicate presence on stage. I had no idea what to expect and I have to say they blew me away. Tom had two pedal boards and uses a complex mix of pedals to create a dreamy soundscape of sustained guitar tones, with intricate riffs rising above the drone. And then Milla started to speak. Yes, not singing but spoken word poetry ! There was a kind of magical mix between the complex and loud guitar sounds and Milla’s light and delicate poetry drifting over the top, as if on a breeze. It was innovative and at times deeply personal. Milla has an air of innocence juxta positioned next to Tom’s experimental and complex tones. Somehow, the two were a brilliant mix, and I loved every second of the experience. You can’t dance (well, sway at most) and you can’t sing along, but it’s totally engaging as we all stood in utter silence…. Mesmerised.
Wow !
Another change round on stage, and out stepped tonight’s headliners, Catmilk (what a great name!). The Nottingham four piece band are hard to fit into any standard genre. There sound has a brooding folk feel / undercurrent to it, and mixes this with a 90’s grunge sound effectively. Singer Alex Milne does a great job, the lyrics often delicate and surreal, and yet at the same time can be gritty and sharp showing their urban background. They’re delivered with a thoughtful deep story-telling style which is arranged well against the stirring melodies and crisp, clear riffs. These are backed up by a great rhythm section, the bass and drums link up tightly together creating the canvass on which the lead & rhythm guitars can do their magic.
So many genres and so much talent from this local band, with songs of love and sorrow, development and fragility, joy and loss. Bass and drums made a tight backdrop for the gritty rhythm guitaring and superb lead riffs soaring over the top, plus occasional keys to add another subtle layer upon layer of sounds that constantly changed intensity throughout.
A great set delivered with style. I can see why BBC Introducing has featured them recently. All in all, a great and varied night. Three bands at different stages on the road, but working well together to deliver a fine night of music. Top stuff all round !
