Primaveras/Rascal/Valorous @ The Peacock (Sunderland)
19/4/24
'I Love Prims' shirts - being sold by the band before the show - along with the ever-present and coveted 'Primaveras' stickers can be seen spotted around. A Yankee candle or two sits on the merch table. A mirror-ball slowly spins over the dancefloor; it's reflections float through the Chinese lanterns which hang from The Peacock's ceiling. A Union Jack'd Vox amp sits on stage. The ever-growing criss-cross of conversation fills the room in anticipation for the night's event - music courtesy of Valorous, Rascal and ending with Primaveras. Pre-gig, members of all three bands casually saunter around The Peacock - if they're nervous, they don't show it.
Five-piece, Valorous, would take to stage first.
Valorous - 19:40
Valorous get underway with 'All Along the Watchtower'. It falls more in line with the Hendrix version; a little funk-fuel is added to the fire. Brandon, the drummer, offers up a groove reminiscent of a Hip-Hop beat - skittering across in ice-y cadence, hi-hats keep him busy, and vice versa.
"We're Valorous, and this next one's 'Chelsea Dagger'."
Frontman, Mark, grips the mic, one-handed. Fingerless gloves are the hand apparel of choice - perfect for the clear blue skies, though chilly weather, that found itself in-and-around Sunderland towards the end of Friday afternoon/evening. He has a powerful voice - he's well able to handle the range of chosen tracks. Lead guitarist, Braydon, to the left of the frontman, holds onto an impenetrably red guitar. His Tie Dye shirt is a nice contrast to the guitars solid colour. His eyes hide behind his fringe-curtains.
'Lazaretto' - Jack White's tune - brings crazy guitar tones with it. Braydon sticks with his bright red guitar, while the other, Spike, swaps a sunburst, and by the looks of it, signed, Fender for a bright blue one - a triangular, yellow sticker with skull and bones is positioned underneath his playing hand. The two guitarists compliment each others playing. Bassist, Declan, holds his groove; his head weaves back and forth as he finds the pocket.
"I feel the vibes coming in now. Let's go."
Mark takes a swig of water after pushing his voice into shrieking, potentially vocal cord damaging, territory.
"This is the last song of our set. We're gonna calm it down so that we can blow it back up again."
An impassioned rendition of Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game' closes out Valorous's set.
"We're Valorous, thanks for having us."
Spike places his guitar cables on his head, halo-like, as he packs his gear away.
A black-and-white 'Rascal' banner - with help from Primaveras frontman Tobey Hall - is pinned to the black curtain that hangs at the back of the stage.
The stage is now Rascal's.
The sound of muted, stilted notes playout as the band set themselves up, get themselves ready.
Rascal - 20:30
Rascal - an 'extremely local' band as stated by lead guitarist Louis post-gig - begin with no introduction. It's just frontman, Noel, and drummer, Lewis, to start. Laurence, on bass duties, and lead guitarist Louis - who also happen to be brothers - take to stage as the short intro track ends. Laurence splashed the cash on an 'I Love Prims' t-shirt. It nicely matches his white and black bass guitar, as well as the Rascal banner behind the band - the stars couldn't have aligned any better.
Rascal's set continued with Weezer's 90's staple 'Say it Aint So'. The brothers, on either side of Noel, are reminiscent of crazy scientists. Very Kevin Shields-y in appearance.
The first Nirvana cover comes in the form of 'Silver'. Drummer Lewis gets in on vocal duties. Clearly Nirvana are still as much of a big deal now as they ever were.
"This one's the first original of the night. It's called 'Bored'."
Four lads are spotted in the crowd doing something that can only be referred to as a rendition of a Can-Can.
"GET OFF THE METRO, NOW!"
A pop-punk line is travelled down. The pace of the night has picked up considerably, aswell as the ferocity and tangible angst.
The second Nirvana cover of the set is 'Territorial Pissings'.
"Are you Nirvana?" is said by a member of the audience. "Yes, we are Nirvana, for now" Noel replies.
Phone flashlights are swayed as the band play "the first original song" they ever wrote.
A more recent cover in IDLES' 'Never Fight a Man With a Perm' is performed.
The drums gallop forth; guitars take on a scathing tone. Noel can't help but smile as he sees an audience member hoisted on shoulders - said audience member unknowingly swipes the mirrorball back and forth; the reflections of said ball get as wild as the performance.
'Rascal, Rascal, Rascal' chants ring out.
Noel gets off the stage; sits at the front of said stage. Glistening in the light of The Peacock, key and chain hang from his pants.
Lewis has a high-energy approach to the art of battery. A drum solo of sorts leads Rascal's penultimate track towards its finish line.
A short-and-sweet song closes out the set.
It was time for Primaveras.
Primaveras - 21:30
A gig-goer has a Primaveras barcode taped to his back. Sunglasses with Primaveras stickers on each eye-piece sit on top of one attendees head.
Drummer, James Bacon, gets on stage first. A bass-drum heartbeat begins the show. Tobey, adorned with sunglasses, gets on stage last.
A high-pitched, whaling guitar soars above the Primaveras. Bacon swipes the curtains as he plays.
"If any of you haven't seen us before, we're Primaveras. And if you have, thanks for coming back."
Bassist, Josh Hancox, cool-ly plays. He's a calm customer. Tobey tilts his head back, ceilingward, as he screams.
'You've never seen anyone with two badges on their jacket."
The band dip into a cover of The Small Faces' 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It'. Vocal duties are shared among the Prims. They ration a microphone after tech difficulties renders a microphone unusable.
Bacon throws his water bottle in the air and subsequently catches it, twice.
Hall certainly suffers for his art - the strain of his performance is painted across his face as he sings.
"This is a new tune. It goes by the name of....." *Hall screams*
Josh signals for a clap-along - the crowd indulge. Members all take turns to scream to end the song; a 1-2-3 of screams.
Tobey and Josh are left on stage. "Every time we play this it usually ends in tears." The South Park theme tune is played. Josh morphs into Eric Cartman as an unequivocally Cartmanesque impression is ventured down. Matt Stone and Trey Parker would be proud.
Primaveras pull on their 'Pleased to Meet you' clothes - a staple of the bands set.
The Prims have it under control. The song slows down only to pick up the pace even faster than before. Bacon would make you feel sorry for the drumkit as he relentlessly sees out the song.
"James Bacon, everyone." James commences to take a quick bow.
"This is a song we finished yesterday. It's fresh out the womb. It doesn't have a name."
A Prims smiley bobs and weaves beneath the strings of Josh's bass.
"Does anyone here like feet? The director that this next one's about does."
The set is seen out with 'Tarantino Indie Rock'. The band break things down as they see their last song across its finish line. A helicopter-like tone drones out.
Fynn jams a drumstick behind his guitar strings, Bacon's drumkit takes a hammering as Hall goes over the top of it. Bacon proceeds to kick the bass drum over, after he's thrown the hi-hat stand to the ground.
"Don't worry" Hall says to the workers of The Peacock "we'll pay for any damages."
A rather turbulent ending to the gig.
"I need to buy some electrolyte pouches. We've got t-shirts for sale over there. Thank you."
A satisfying mix of cover tracks and original songs were played throughout the night. A togetherness between bands and gig-goers sits center to the Sunderland scene. A well-woven, warm blanket; a tight-knit community.
