++GIG REVIEW++
Matt Merritt gives us the view from the sea-side, as he reports on the Portsmouth leg of William's tour...
The young ladies of MINDS GONE BLANK start proceedings a shy brand of power-pop. Giggling and joking non-stop between songs, they still managed to play like a band who'd been together a lot longer than two months.
Next up, and cranking up the bass to earthquake tremor levels, were MUNROE EFFECT, whose barrelling riffs pounded and pummelled an audience eager to take all the sonic punishment the band could throw at them.
"but still the band pushed harder, thrashing and leaping about the tiny stage..."
Their huge sound, swelling and thrashing to escape the tiny venue, became almost overwhelming at times, but still the band pushed harder, thrashing and leaping about the tiny stage as if to show that they had all the energy of the first band and more.
With so much energy already buzzing through the room, WILLIAM played a set of rough around the edges, but fun filled rock songs that forced the toe to tap away furiously.
Bassist Mark Williams leapt across the stage twirling his instrument as he locked into the beat. Daniel Sheridan pounded the already battered house drum kit to within an inch of it's life. Frontman Mark Thomas' soaring vocals mesmerised the audience as his left foot spasmed away on the myriad pedals.
Then, the house lights came up, the stage was bare and the audience, drained by the energetic displays onstage, slowly shuffled toward the door and out into the cold night air.
++ Matt Merritt ++
Artrocker rating: 3
The newest sounds as heard in the Artrocker Office and our Resonance FM podcast.
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