STRANGE BONES @ THE DARK ROOM




Review By: Ames

You'd think that after seeing them 7 times since last May, I'd at least be a little bit tired of seeing Strange Bones by now, but it couldn't be more the opposite. After seeing them in York and at Darwen Music Live, seeing them at the Dark Room in Preston would be my third time seeing the Blackpudlian punk outfit on their Blitz Pt.1 tour, and it looked set to be the craziest show yet.

For the remainder of the tour, Strange Bones are bringing three-piece and good pals Calva Louise along for the ride, as well as allowing some of the most exciting up and coming bands from each place they play in open the shows, and have the nigh on impossible task of preparing the crowds for the sheer energy of a Strange Bones show.

Tonight's opener was Preston based Sugarstone, who had clearly brought a fanbase, as there was a crowd at the front singing along to their songs. They played a solid set, though despite the fact this was the first time I've seen them, I genuinely felt like I'd seen them before, and I couldn't quite put my finger on why. Overall a solid band, despite the sense of deja vu I had for most of their set.

Jess of Calva Louise

Next were Calva Louise, who I saw support Strange Bones the very first time I saw them, and they've since become one of my favourite bands. Since the first time I saw them, I've had the pleasure of watching lead singer Jess become an absolute force of nature on stage, and she has, in my opinion, become one of the best front women in the scene at the moment. The band have come on massively since last year and have got better and better each time I've seen them. Jess' ability to go from scream to soft when she sings is second to none and the band's unique take on punk music is unlike any other band that I know of.

The band played most of their set from debut album 'Rhinoceros', playing their bigger songs such as 'I Heard a Cry' and 'Getting Closer', as well as 'No Hay', a song from their album written in Jess' native tongue, Spanish, further showing their versatility as a band. They had the crowd going from the very start and amassed quite the moshpit at the front by the end of the set. 

Calva Louise's energy pulls you in from the start of the set and keeps you captivated right until the end. They're a band I'd urge everyone to go and see while they're still playing small venues, as they're definitely on the way up.

Bobby of Strange Bones

Despite playing an almost identical set to the sets played in York and Darwen, Strange Bones absolutely tore up the script in Preston. The energy in the room was there from the second they walked onto the stage until long after they'd finished their last song. Opening with Snakepit and with Bobby once again launching himself into the crowd without a second thought for his own safety, it set the tone for the night.

The crowd were in full voice, screaming along to 'S.O.I.A' and the band played their cover of 'Breathe' by the Prodigy, their second cover of a Prodigy song after covering 'Spitfire', which was absolutely electric and I can safely say that I'm not the only person who felt Keith Flint's presence in the room during the song, a fitting tribute to an icon.

Strange Bones always finish with 'God Save The Teen', and crowds are always involved, whether its singing along to the Na Na Na's during the chorus or catching Bobby as he jumps off of a raised part of the venue into the crowd, tonight was a speaker which was probably the highest and most unsafe thing I've ever seen him jump off, but regardless he jumps into the crowd and they go insane for the last 30 seconds of the song.

Being able to keep the intensity of their gigs up for so long is testament to the band Strange Bones are, they tire you out and blow your mind all at once and Bobby's showmanship is unwavering, his transition between the different masks used in different songs is effortless and their shows are a joy to be a part of, there is always such a unity in the room and I know of very few smaller bands who can bring people together like they do.

Go and experience a Strange Bones show before you can't, you won't regret it.

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