Photo: WENN
Brighton’s Blood Red Shoes have developed and honed their craft over the last few years to almost pave the way for a whole stream of brash two-pieces to emerge.
Supported by two of these raw and powerful duos for this tour, both DZ Deathrays and Slaves bring something to the fold that gives this particular wave of two-pieces a great name. The latter band, a couple of boys from Kent whose brand of punk is so refreshing and entertaining they certainly win a lot of people over and come very close to stealing the show.
With the Camden basement suitably limbered up, Blood Red Shoe’s opening number ‘Welcome Home’ shows elements of innovation and experimentation and a sign of things to come with a wall of sound crashing around The Electric Ballroom. Being a two-piece, there really is nowhere to hide - but the chemistry between Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell is a thing of wonder. The connection and sense of knowing allows them to power through any slips and with some encouragement, the crowd start to bounce off each other.
Long-standing fans are suitably treated with material from the bands previous three albums getting an airing. The distorted and scuzzy numbers are played with real confidence and sit well alongside songs from their self-titled fourth album. The duo continue to hammer through an entertaining set, barley pausing for breath, however the relentless nature of their gritty songs does start to wear thin, with an air of predictability setting in.
The sheer power of the songs is not enough to pull the band through that ‘tough’ middle part of the set. With a certain lull sweeping across the venue, an unexpected highlight comes in the form of recent b-side ‘Wretch’. Drummer Steven Ansell introduces Eoin Loveless of Drenge fame on stage and he provides some brilliantly angst fuelled vocals to kick the latter part of the show back into life. With some excited momentum the band launch into ‘The Perfect Mess,’ a non-stop anthem highlighting all that is good about Blood Red Shoes.
As the set comes to a close, the pits get bigger and by the time ‘Light It Up’ kicks off, the audience are in fine voice. An undoubtedly entertaining gig from start to finish, the 6(ish) people who took to the stage across the night prove that less can be more, and amazing.
