Wych Elm / The Bodega / Nottingham
Another night at The Bodega in Nottingham to see Wych Elm on their autumn UK tour
First in in support we have up and coming local band Soaphead. The three piece band describe themselves as the “disco demons from hell” Made up of Seb Pomeroy on guitar, Louis Gately on bass and vocals, and Zach Thompson on drums & voclas, they play an energetic punk style with fast and powerful riffs and angry, often raw vocals, with some serious metal and grunge attitude. A great set, and they brilliantly overcame some technical difficulties when Sebs guitar decided to stop working, making light of the situation and entertaining the crowd brilliantly while a replacement was sourced. Top job lads !
Next up was Skitz Wizards also from Nottingham (and with Zach Thompson on drums again) but joined by founders Louis Paulson and Luke Reynolds. What marks Skitz Wizards out is their use of two basses, as they deliver a set of hardcore pounding punk at high voltage levels of intensity, an outlet for anger & frustration, as is often the case with punk, fuelled by loathing of the political system, lack of social justice and personal unrest. Unbelievable energy…. punk at its best
With their latest EP “Field Crow” out now, Bristol’s Wych Elm took to the Bodega stage. The three piece play a delightfully scrappy style of grunge influenced indie rock. As the name suggests their sound has an almost occult feel to it (think bands like Green Lung) and its both menacing and in turn contemplative with an undercurrent which has a touch of the macabre. Led by vocalist and bass player Caitlin Elliman, her bass playing has a starring role in their sonic structure.
At times it has an old school 80’s indy vibe (The Primitives / The Shop Assistants) and then again at times a modern post-punk (Dream Wife) feel, but with a unique and engrossing feel to it. The macabre undercurrent always there giving it an emotional edge. Gripping stuff, and a band that should be in everyone’s top 100 bands to see live category.
Their excellent latest EP “Field Crow” is available now on their website here: https://wychelm.band/
