The Xaviers / The Louisiana / Bristol
We’ve said it before, but we have two golden rules at LiveWire Music. Firstly, we will never knowingly miss a support band (train/traffic delays permitting !). You buy tickets for the headliners so you know what you’re going to get, but with the support bands…. It’s a journey of discovery, and so often, we’ve found exciting new bands that have not only made the night magical, but have become regular listening favourites.
Secondly, we will always cover shows of ANY size. In fact, many of the best nights out we’ve had, have been at smaller venues. This is where you find the new, the exciting and the amazing !
And tonight was a perfect example of this philosophy in action. A trip down to ol’ Bristol town, and we headed along to The Louisiana on Wapping Road down int e harbour/dock area of town. It’s a fantastic grass roots venue, where some massive names have performed early in their careers, such as Amy Winehouse and Bristol’s own IDLES started in venues like this. Tonight it was the turn of The Xaviers.
But first in support we had a set from Amelle Rose originally form France, and now making her home her in the UK. A solo singer/songwriter armed with just a peppermint Fender Jazzmaster. Its indie-rock, but as she described it to me before the set, it’s sad girl rock, and more like a therapeutic journalling.
Right from the off, I was hooked. The tracks have deeply personal and heartfelt lyrics that portray a level of introspection and fearless vulnerability, touching on things like mental health and the human condition
Her voice is delightful, with both great tone and range and she puts her Jazzmaster through some great fuzzy effects creating a dark and emotive performance.
The highlight had to be the last track Pity Party where she got the audience to sing the words “don’t wanna be no second best” and the crowd kept going, far beyond expectation, so she carried on with the lyrics and it was brilliant, everyone cheering at the end.
Brilliant !
Setlist
Wish You Well
Congratulations
Can’t Talk
Liar
Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead cover)
Pity Party
Next up, we had something very very different, as Trans Siberian Express headed up on to the stage. The set was slightly delayed, due to a mysteriously missing E key harmonica, which led to some frantic adjustment as they worked out how to deliver the opening track Caffeine in a different key, which they did, and delivered it brilliantly (I hope you found it guys !)
Trans Siberian Express are hard to describe. They are one of those unique bands with a sound and identity all of their own, such as Black Country New Road.
They describe themselves as splurge rock. With all manner of noise making equipment, from harmonicas and tambourines, to whistles, bullhorns and old school telephones, they have a little bit of everything you’re looking for in music, performance and atmosphere. I loved the use of the old phone handset, plugged in to an amp, giving the vocals a brilliantly retro, Buggles feel.
Musically, they are very very good, there’s elements of soul, funk and spacejam in there. At times it reminded me of Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, and at times, the brilliantly funky complex bass sections had me thinking of Les Claypool and Primus.
Crazy, chaotic and brilliant are the three words I’d use to describe Trans Siberian Express. A
Smorgasbord of sounds to delight the ears.
Setlist
Caffeine
Time Fell Through
Disco
Poverty
Stella
Genie
Jam in G
Pacifist
And yet…. there’s more as headliners The Xaviers head up on to the stage to cheers.
Based in Bristol with two members by the way from Melbourne, The Xaviers are a three piece brought together by shared influences, work ethic and a love for music.
Described as indie-rock, what actually lies below the surface is much more complex and interesting. Coming together in 2024 their music is harmony laden taking inspiration from the music that influenced them, from the likes of Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac & Dr Dog.
Their live performance is full of energy and that mix of influences is clear to see, with soulful elements and some great blues rock bits in there too.
A great set that the Louisiana crowd were eagerly dancing away too. I especially loved the opening number Nothing Hurts and End of the World.
A really enjoyable set, and a band I’d love to see again.
A night with three local bands, all very very different in style and sound., but you know, sometimes opposites attract ! I love a show where you don’t get two or three bands that sound kind of the same, each element here brought something very different to the show. Amelle Rose was deep, thoughtful and introspective, then Trans Siberian Express, were just barmy, with some wonderfully complex and interesting sounds and finally, a great indie rock set with a broad influence base with some great soulful and blues edges.
Tonight was a great example of our two main mantras in practice. Two GREAT support acts, and an example of how grass roots venues are the source for great up and coming bands, with THREE on show tonight.
A brilliant night, and I can’t recommend them all enough !
Setlist (partial)
Nothing Hurts
All I Need
Anything I Could Do
Aimlessly Amy
End of the World
Sunbaker
22 Hours
Same Old Faces
Baby Please Don’t Go
