More about: Black Country, New Road

Picture the scene: the Abbeydale Picture House is half-full (a reflection of social distancing, not the bands popularity), packed (metaphorically) with live music fans itching for a reminder of what a guitar through an amplifier sounds like.

The drummer takes to the stage and thanks everybody for coming out, referencing Mission Impossible twice as he does (why is he doing that?) before saying the band will be trying out some new stuff tonight and he hopes we all enjoy it. He walks off. The lights dim. The Mission Impossible soundtrack begins to play (oh, he was foreshadowing) and lights flash as the seven members of Black Country, New Road scatter through the crowd looking for their instruments before donning them and getting ready to play. Lips press to sax, fingers to keyboard, sticks to drums and pick to guitar. There’s a beat of anticipation. And another. And another. 

The silent anticipation drags on for a little bit too long and the pianist giggles before tentatively talking down her mic saying: “erm… we have no power…” 

The band were more than happy to laugh at themselves in this period as there was some silence whilst sound guys scrambled to move wires and get the show up and running. It was only for about 30 seconds before Black Country, New Road started their set. And how was their set? Well, I knew I missed live music, but fuck me. 

Before the show the drummer announced they would be playing new music and so asked everyone to refrain from filming the performance. As such, I’ll talk in a way that keeps the sound a secret whilst still teases what it’s like here: it sounded like if Robert Plant couldn’t sing high and Led Zeppelin tried to make Led Zeppelin IV today. This new stuff sounded like if the Red Dead Redemption soundtrack was going through a phase. This new stuff sounded like the first dance at a wedding where you know it’s not going to work but goddammit they’re trying for the kids. The new stuff is, without a doubt, something you should be incredibly excited for. 

BCNR continue to show the innovation that made their debut album, For the first time, a success. The way they can build an atmosphere by shifting from free jazz-inspired chaos into heavy riffs with head banging drums was such a thrill to be a part of. Throughout the entire gig there was an element of uncertainty that came with every track, given BCNR simply have no desire to restrict themselves to any sound or genre. If it sounds good to them, they’ll play it.

I think it’s really commendable to do this tour. Live music and arts seems to have been shafted more times than we can count throughout the pandemic, leaving bands itching to play and fans itching to see them. Socially distanced in a theatre is obviously not the way you should be watching BCNR, yet they went out there into the unknown and put on a fantastic show. 

To have a band with seven members be so in tune with one another and have such an understanding as to how each of them plays so that they can bounce off that collective energy, was really a treat to see. No instrument stands out in BCNR, they come together as a band and stand out that way, creating some incredibly ambient music as a result. Remove one element from the mix and it’s not the same. 

Also, the drummer went for a wee halfway through the set. It doesn’t change anything I just feel like I should mention it. 

BCNR have made it incredibly easy to be all 'oooh it's good to be back' in this review. If I had seen that show prior to the pandemic, back when Corona was just a lager I ordered when I wanted to feel fancy, this review would have been exactly the same. Finding an issue with BCNR’s set? Now that’s Mission Impossible. 

p.s. It’s worth highlighting how excellent the staff at Abbeydale Picture House in Sheffield were. Music venues have been so hard done by and the hard work that they put in that night to keep everything sounding and looking right, whilst running round in the dark bringing drinks and making sure spectators were okay is a testament to their venue. If you’re ever in Sheffield be sure to get yourself down there. 

More about: Black Country, New Road