Homecoming shows are quite often extra special, and for Bristol quartet Turbowolf that’s something of an understatement. With the band’s 2012 tour coming to a spectacular end at Bristol venue The Fleece, it’s safe to say that the city is very proud of the achievements of the group following a fantastic 12 months or so for them. With a debut album packed to the brim with cracking songs and a recent EP of eccentric and distortion-laden covers, it seemed like every Bristol music fan and their dog were chomping at the bit to get a piece of Turbowolf live show. It fills the heart with pride to see a Bristol act doing so well on the national stage, so when they return to the city where it all began there’s much expectation for something extra special to go down, and perhaps that’s why The Fleece sold out not long before the doors opened. The atmosphere pops as Bristol folk pile in and there’s certainly a party atmosphere in the air.
While I was too caught up in
the anticipation to catch opening act Throne, Black Moth had my full attention
as their brand of dark, groovy garage rock and roll worked the crowd into an
odd yet bouncing frenzy. The Leeds based, female-fronted five-piece had enough
heavy and haunting material to be quite mesmerizing, but as much as a group of
ten to fifteen punters deemed it moshworthy, it just didn’t have enough of an
impact to leave me desperate for more. At times the vocals got lost behind
thick walls of distortion and feedback, but maybe that’s what they were going
for. Their thirty minute set seemed to last double that, and by the end I was
thankful when they took their leave.
As a stage prop in the form of
a huge King Tut head appeared on stage it was clear that the Bristol horde were
as excited to see their sons return to the Bristol stage, and as Turbowolf
bounded out you couldn’t blame them for looking slightly taken aback by the
sheer volume of applause from the crowd. This only lasted several seconds, and
soon the band were in their element, tearing through songs that helped them
make their name while surrounded by what must be a high percentage of the same
fans who made something as big as a UK headlining tour possible. The set is
full of intense, mystical and supernatural heavy songs, the raspy vocals taking
the lead and the solid band following suit. Tracks like ‘Ancient Snake’ (which
the crowd scream along to constantly), ‘Let’s Die’ (which feels like it rushes
along at 1000mph), ‘Read & Write’ (which is impeccably addictive) and the
song which is perhaps THE Turbowolf track, ‘A Rose For The Crows’. The songs as
rapidly fired out and the Bristol massive really can’t get enough, and as
covers from the recent EP (which are relatively new to Turbowolf enthusiasts)
are delivered, it’s clear that even the most casual of music fan must be able
to appreciate the unique and vintage musical chic of the band. The likes of ‘Captain
Caveman’ by Lightning Bolt and ‘Somebody To Love’ by Jefferson Airplane hit
hard and prove that Turbowolf are one of the most exciting prospects in UK
heavy music, and I’m not just saying that because I’m Bristol born and bred.
It’s apparent that now
Turbowolf have completed a successful touring cycle that they are now returning
to the studio to write and record the follow up to their debut album, and I
have confidence that the next time the band have a ‘homecoming’, it will be on
an even grander scale than this one, and that really will be something.
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