Sunday at Sound City was made all the more special for Gigwise because we partnered with the festival to co-curate the Hangar 34 line-up. One of the bands we pushed to have on were Russian band Shortparis. And the reception was incredible.
Firstly, we were compelled to have them on was seeing the five-piece on the main stage at Station Narva on the Estonian/Russian border. That incredible set implied they would completely slay in the UK and the 700-cap Hangar 34 venue in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle was a fitting place for what was only their second UK gig.
Secondly, we've been enamoured with their album ПАСХА. Of which, Steven Kline says it resembles a band trying to smash five decades of music with an electrified cricket bat. Rave, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, darktronica, Balkan folk, eastern psychedelia, Muse and rock ragas."
One of our favourite tracks from that album 'Стыд' is featured in the live clip below. It received a sizeable cheer for the dance moves and hearing the vocal melody imitated on slide guitar helps slam those hooks into the listener.
Gigwise photographer Andy Von Pip was in the pit and able to get this close-up handheld footage during the set.
Meanwhile, Shortparis are in the midst of a tour and called into London’s Moth Club, Manchester’s Yes, and Nottingham’s Chameleon venue in the past few days. They've earned rave reviews along the way.
Elsewhere, you can read our report of Liverpool Sound City 2019 here.
Festival season carries on with The Great Escape this weekend and FOCUS Wales next weekend. Keep tabs on Gigwise for news and features from the festival.
See the rave fan reviews from the Shortparis gig below:
If you ever get the chance go and see #Shortparis. They will change your life. Seriously. Possibly the most incredible thing I’ve seen at @SoundCity all weekend #SoundCity19
— Deb (@deborahwooduk) May 5, 2019
OMG ShortParis just won my @SoundCity totally totally amazing. Thanks @maryannehobbs for the recommendation.
— Swatkiss (@sawatkiss) May 5, 2019
