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LIVE: The Youth Play's Hometown Release Show

Words by Luke Rea

Photography by Bella Keery


London Post-Gaze outfit, The Youth Play, marked their first release of the year with a hometown release show at The Victoria, Dalston. Bolstered by two stellar shoegaze-influenced supports, Night Swimming and Bande á Part, the new-comers have set the bar high for future live shows.



Show openers, Bande á Part, threatened to steal the show from the off. Gritty and unrefined, their guitars indulged in the dissonance of their unorthodox riffs. With menacing basslines and organ, trudging drums and the bleak, spoken word vocals of lead singer and poet, Sabina Hellstrom, the band created a sinister dirge that brought to mind early Fat White Family tracks, such as ‘I am Mark E Smith’. The band casually exchanged instruments amongst themselves at several points during the set, blurring their sonic roles and creating a dynamic artistic approach. Unperturbed by silence, they dragged the space between phrases to uncomfortable lengths and frequently brought dynamics down to a whisper, beckoning the ear in closer. This tension built throughout the set, only reaching a chaotic climax toward its end.  Whilst their brushstrokes felt broad, the band were intensely commanding performers, whose sound always felt purposeful and cohesive. I look forward to their debut release later in the year. 


Bande á Part


Night Swimming have existed the longest of the bands on the bill and their experience showed, as they delivered a hauntingly beautiful set. Their approach was refined yet mellow, with soft shoegaze guitar tones that paired gentle swells with cascading arpeggios, alongside occasional delay-soaked percussive palm muting that created a rain-like rhythmic patter. The drums created strong rhythmic hooks which were complemented by quirky, often off-beat basslines. This relationship underpinned the songs, providing momentum and affording the guitars and vocals freedom to explore gorgeous melodic soundscapes. This rhythmic dexterity was used most effectively in their final song, ‘5 Year Plan’, with its unusual 7/8 groove creating a subtle urgency to an emotionally potent track. With the elegant and eerie vocals of lead singer Meg Jones, the band created a beautiful, melancholy nostalgia throughout their set. Their debut EP, ‘No Place To Land’, is available for pre-order on vinyl now.  


Night Swimming


The Youth Play were the loudest and most direct band of the night. They encapsulated some elements of both supports with a more confrontational heartbeat. Pounding drums drove each song with intensity, and equally aggressive bass lines cut through the mix with thunderous downstrokes and power chords. The hazy abrasion of their shoegaze guitars provided welcome interest to the familiar post-punk engine room of the band, as did the vocal variety, with the harsh spoken word frequently redirected into vulnerable melodies that created gripping sonic nuance. Stops and dynamic song structures were used to great effect, ensuring every chorus landed with full impact. Their explosive stage presence and live visuals, that fell somewhere between psychedelia and VHS tape, made for an immersive and high-octane show.


The Youth Play


The audience’s energy was equally intense and lead singer Diego Bracho’s delight was palpable. Whilst their post-punk foundation was effective, they were at their most captivating when exploring more unusual sonic territory. I’d like to hear them delve deeper into these elements that set them apart from other other post-punk influenced bands as their musical identity develops. With a perfectly curated lineup, a ravenous audience and memorable headline performance, The Youth Play marked their first release of the year with intent, and I look forward to hearing what they do next. ‘If We Just Ever Were’, is out now. 


This excellent lineup was presented by Caso Faro.



 

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