A Third day in the RED zone didn’t bode well for tonight’s gig. No need for “Layering up” just in case it got chilly later. Lack of pockets can be a problem in warmer weather, however.
I parked up and walked to Old Market Street over the park. A lovely summer evening and Bristol basked in the sunshine. I thought I caught fragments of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s dad-rock hanging in the air from tonight’s Bristol Sounds on the Harbourside Concerts.
I was soon at the Exchange which is a pleasantly ramshackle venue with friendly staff and reasonably priced drinks.
The main room holds about 150 people but wasn’t too full. The stage is at a good height so it is difficult not to get a good view of the band. The AC was cranked up which made things very comfortable.
I first saw Master Peace in the Big Top Tent at End of the Road Festival two years ago. They were playing in front of a few thousand people but totally bossed it. If you told me back then that they weren’t going to be massively successful I would have been really surprised. ‘Start You Up’ would be advertising Microsoft Windows, ‘Don’t want to Go Home’ would be the new ‘Seven Nation Army’ of football chants.
However, progress stalled. Peace supported on the D*ckworth tour just solo with backing tapes last winter and I worried for him. He toured with The Good Neighbours ( Great band BTW!) In February. He had added Hattie the drummer, and I was heartened, he had rediscovered his mojo.
With a new guitarist added, they are now a powerful vehicle to deliver the songs. They powered through the back catalogue with renewed vigour, new songs such as ‘Stupid Kids’ sounded great. They enjoyed playing ‘Panic’ so much they decided to play it again, and it was just as enjoyable the 2nd time.
If you want me to describe what they sound like, I would say they were a poppier, raunchier version of Bloc Party. But they are a great live band, if you get a chance to see them in this moment, you won’t regret it!
I do apologise for being the only person in the venue who wasn’t able to kneel down for ‘Start You Up’ but I was almost certainly 20 years older than any other person there!
The lovely thing about these gigs is that we all went outside afterwards and had a drink and a chat with the band. Everyone was on a post-gig high. It’s great when the band mingle with the audience afterwards.
This gig was part of the Everywhere At Once Festival ran by Music Venues Trust. So a reminder to support our Independent Music Venues, they add so much to our quality of life.
Scott Fraser
