The past seven months have been very, very kind to this band. Since the rocky critical reception that the 2012 release Changing Tune received, Lower Than Atlantis have stormed back onto the scene in a big way with the release of their new self-titled album. Not only was the release well-received by both new and old fans alike, but their headline show only went to prove that these are four men who deserve everything they are getting.
Opening up were PVRIS, a three-piece alt-rock unit hailing from Massachusetts. Since the release of their debut album White Noise, this is a band that has been blowing up on both sides of the pond, and one which the crowd seemed eager to catch live. What started off as a lacklustre beginning quickly gained momentum into something quite spectacular. It seemed like vocalist Lyndsey Gunnulfsen began as shy, being hesitant to interact with the crowd and keeping herself fairly controlled (a feature of the set which seemed to affect all in the band, but when three members are all playing two instruments each, it isn’t hard to understand), and her vocals were occasionally out of sync with the rest of the band. However, by the time ‘St Patrick‘ approached, Gunnulfsen had hit her stride, with some of the best vocal moments coming from this song. Regardless of this, an eager crowd continued to jump, sing, and scream from the moment the band came on stage until the moment they left, truly a testament to the power of a band who are supposedly nothing more than an opener, and one which paved the way for things to come.
Main support came from Essex lads We Are The Ocean. Since releasing their teaser single ‘Ark‘ for their album of the same name, due to be released next month (as of the time of the show), the band had made a comeback after a few months of inactivity. Blasting in with ‘Machine‘, the band played through a set mostly taken from the forthcoming release. This was not to say that the band did not reference their back catalogue; however, with nods to both ‘Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow’ (2013) and ‘Go Now And Live’ (2011) both welcomed by the crowd. The audience came alive to these nods; however still seemed infatuated with the newer content, and the jumping and screaming only served to help this. Liam Cromby’s vocals seemed better than ever, effortlessly reaching for the high notes that have become ever more a part of We Are The Ocean’s music. Back-up vocalist Alfie Scully only further complemented this, and the entire band worked off of each other well, dancing around the stage as they performed and dazzling the audience in a way few other bands could. With two fantastic sets performed, it was time for the star features to come out.
Storming into recent single ‘Criminal‘, Lower Than Atlantis immediately cause carnage. This is an audience who have remained loyal to the band for a long time, as can be seen from the number of people screaming along to 2010’s ‘Far Q’. Since the band last played Epic in July 2014, their fanbase has increased considerably, and this is reflected by the sold-out nature of the show. A set list consisting of songs ranging from ‘Far Q’ right through to the new album, the band plays something for everyone. More recent fans could take delight in songs such as ‘Emily’, ‘Words Don’t Come So Easily’, and ‘Stays The Same’, whereas older fans could enjoy some of the older classics, including ‘Far Q’, ‘Marilyn’s Mansion’, and ‘High At Five‘. The pure range of the set, featuring the inclusion of many songs that most people didn’t expect, coupled with their innate ability to smash every song they play, made for an unexpectedly incredible show, and arguably one of their best so far.
Musically, all four members were entirely on point, playing off of each other brilliantly and showing why they deserve to be in the position that they are in. Frontman Mike Duce, as usual, showed himself to be the on-stage personality of the band, not only by declaring himself to be cool (more than once), but by telling a fan to f**k off, and whilst he may be a controversial character, he still seems to remain one that people love. His frequent back and forth with the crowd, as well as his consistent encouragement for them to lose it (not, of course, that they needed it), seems to cement why Duce does so well as a frontman: a completely one-of-a-kind stage presence. A more touching moment throughout the set, however, came from an intimate acoustic rendition of ‘Another Sad Song’ in the middle of a crowd, which left more than a few audience members in tears.
As the set came to a close with 2014’s massive release ‘Here We Go‘, Lower Than Atlantis proved exactly why it is that, despite multiple setbacks, they’ve clawed their way up to the top of the UK alt-rock scene. Not only are the band persistent and charismatic, but they also know how to put on an absolutely fantastic show featuring some incredible music, neither of which anybody is going to forget anytime soon.
A fantastic night, a fantastic end to the tour, and a fantastic promise of even bigger things from all the bands involved.
Words – Liam Forkes
Photography – Kayleigh Warren
