River Creatures
Hello my friends, hope you are as well as can be, so I bit the ‘first gig back’ bullet and trotted off to see King Creature and Blind River, admittedly I was quite nervous, not of the band y’see but the whole virus song and dance that has perpetuated our lives since last year. The venue was my local haunt, The Asylum and I love it there, lovely staff, and atmosphere, and once inside I saw the reality of what the ‘new normal’ may actually look like. It was scary because what would usually be a packed room was reduced to seating and maximum six to a table. As I write notes during a concert I was happy to be seated but the sheer lack of capacity floored me, and I really applaud the venue, the bands, the staff and the fans for taking a chance in these uncertain times and putting on a great show tonight.
First up were Blind River, a band that are new to me but they didn’t waste time carving their names on our shaken souls, I think everyone was a bit on edge, and these fellas were grateful that we had supported this tour. A set which exuded raw power, strong as an ox and capable of tearing out the lockdown blues by the roots, Harry Armstrong and his merry band provided a spirited Rock ‘n Roll journey which was ‘Made Of Dirt’ and flicked its ‘Acid Tongue’ over our collective beaten hearts. Harry was just as confused as us with this set up but he was engaging and confident that ‘we had found a way’.
With his banshee like wailing sitting prettily next to hardened rock vocals, it was a fiery and footloose set of tunes. The high speed high jinks moved forward with Cornwall heroes King Creature, who played a blistering show, again we salute the musicians who are taking this risk and stepping out, but also we remind ourselves of those who are not able to venture out just yet. Small steps my friends and we will get there soon. The audience bobbed their heads and tapped their toes to the music; I think we were all waiting for someone to say ‘CHARGE’ and all hell would have broken loose! The mighty Creature know how to plummet the hidden depths and re-ignite that fire, that passion that has probably escaped us. With new guitarist Mike Stennett safely on board they strode through the set with the knowledge of what we have all missed. As the night continued I had the overwhelming urge to run around the room like a thing possessed, get to the barrier and scream until my lungs burst, I do not know how I stopped myself. This was a fitting bill of cosmic shredders, wearing their bed heads quite alluringly, lockdown hair anyone?
I was thrilled to hear ‘Wrath’ again and alongside ‘Desolation’ ‘Lowlife’ and ending with the immense ‘No Getting Out Alive’ we were disheartened by the shorter set but glad of the experience. It was a night to impart a shared wisdom and integrity, one which bands and fans have respected over the years. We all left with our hearts full and a glowing pride as to what we had witnessed.
Hats off to everyone here tonight, it was weird but if this is the way through the woods then it’s all good.
King Creature/ Blind River at The Asylum on 31st May 2021 socially distanced tour.