STRANGE BONES @ FULFORD ARMS

Review By: Ames

After travelling well over 500 miles to see bands over the last 13 months, a short train journey to York to see Strange Bones kick off their Blitz Part 1 tour at the Fulford Arms was a must. 

The Blackpudlian four piece consisting of brothers Bobby Bentham (vocals/guitar), Jack Bentham(guitar) and Will Bentham (bass) and childhood friend Spud Newburn (drums) were the band that kickstarted this whirlwind year, so it was only fitting that I would see them to end it. With support from Hull based ‘The Cartels’ and York based ‘Faux Pas’, the night promised to be a wild one, and it didn’t disappoint.

The Cartels were up first, and after seeing them soundcheck I had high expectations. Their set was energetic from start to finish, and they had the crowd hooked in from the start. They seemed to have brought quite a following too, with quite a few of the crowd making the short trip from Hull to see them, high praise for a small band but their set was electric and you can see how they’ve already amassed the following they have. Definitely a band to see again.

Next up were Faux Pas, the lead singer, sporting a dress and converse and giving off a vibe I can only liken to Ezra Miller, thrashed his way through the set and despite only being small, seemed to fill the stage. Their mix of fast and thrashy and an ability to slow it down at any given point and it still make it work made them very easy to watch and very easy to listen to, and despite some technical difficulties for the bassist about halfway through the show, they powered through and it barely affected the set. Another band I’d highly recommend seeing.

Now Strange Bones. After seeing them six times, I am yet to leave a Strange Bones gig without some form of injury, testament to how insane the crowds are, no matter how big or small the venue or how big or small the crowd itself. If you know the songs or not, you can’t help but get involved in the madness at a Strange Bones gig. With lead singer Bobby coming on stage to ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and then diving into ‘Snakepit’, and straight into the crowd, it’s clear from the very start of their set that their shows are wild. Bobby’s tendency to dive into the crowd with no regard for his own safety doesn’t wane throughout, and he spends a lot of the set walking along the ceiling.

Throughout the set, which included old favourites such as S.O.I.A and We The Rats, in which Bobby declares two members of the crowd the King and Queen of the Venue, in homage to the first line of ‘Rats’ “You are the King, You are the Queen”, as well as both released singles from Blitz Pt 1, Vicious and Give Me The Sun, the crowd intensity never stumbled, and they kept up valiantly, hoisting Bobby into the air whenever he’d jump and joining in with the songs they knew and even the ones they didn’t. 

Ending, as they always do, with God Save The Teen, a Strange Bones concert is brutal until the end, and as the lights come up and packing up begins, the crowds flock to the bar for water, or outside for fresh air, which is sorely needed after nine crazy, full on songs worth of Strange Bones.

Strange Bones are one of those very rare bands who can inject life into a crowd whether there’s 5 or 500 people in the room, and their live shows have to be seen to be believed. 

If you’ve not seen Strange Bones yet, you really need to, whether they’re the first support, headlining or playing a festival, I can guarantee they’ll blow your mind.

Catch Strange Bones on the rest of their Blitz Part 1 Tour:

01/06/19 - Camden Rocks, London

03/06/19 - The Moon, Cardiff

05/06/19 - Dive, Hull (SOLD OUT)

06/06/19 - ThinkTank? Underground, Newcastle 

07/06/19 - The Dark Room, Preston

08/06/19 - Jacaranda, Liverpool (SOLD OUT)

11/06/19 - Oporto, Leeds