Deaf Havana Live at Bristol O2 Academy - Review

Posted on: 2017-02-22

Our rating:

Monday 20th February saw Norfolk-based Deaf Havana bring their tour to the O2 Academy in support of their first album in 4 years, All These Countless Nights.


The Deaf Havana story isn’t without its dramas – the last time front man James Veck-Gilodi was in Bristol on business, he was performing at the Louisiana, over two years ago, with Havana band mate Max Britton, on the early days of a solo career, unsure that Deaf Havana would ever perform again.

 

After a turbulent few years, their long awaited follow up to 2013’s “Old Souls”, “All These Countless Nights” was released earlier this month and if you ask me, it was worth the wait; 45 minutes of sonic loveliness from start to finish…and I’d been anticipating this tour for a while, so expections were high; and for full disclosure, I should probably point out that I’m a pretty big Deaf Havana fan, so it was going to take some going for me to struggle for enjoyment!

Deaf Havana Live at Bristol O2 Academy

One thing they’ve always done is bring great sounding support on tour with them in previous years. The last two tours have seen the epic Lonely the Brave in support, along with upcoming bands like The Gospel Youth and the wonderful, unfortunately now disbanded, VERSES. With this in mind, I was excited for the support this evening.

 

London punkers DEAD! were first up – bringing instant energy and doing their best to liven up the subdued crowd. Sonic influences ranged from the Arctic Monkeys through to Weezer to these ears, which I found confusing at times. The array of bedside lamps dotted around the stage was a nice touch and their drummer would definitely have not looked out of place performing on the tubs for an 80’s hair metal band, with his stick spins and over the top mannerisms – he was clearly loving life. Not a band I’d revisit and left me cold in places, but I can see the appeal.

 

Next up were DH label-mates Dinosaur Pile Up who do 3-piece band the way it should be done. Frontman Matt looks a bit like Kurt Cobain (a bit), sounds a bit like Richard Patrick from Filter and their sound is a throwback to 90’s no-nonsense Sub-Pop grunge. Infectious riffs from start to finish, which gets the crowd suitably riled up. They finish their set with latest single 11:11 (from the album of the same name), which has one of the catchiest riffs you’ll ever hear and gets the whole room bouncing. The perfect example that less can sometimes mean more, a lot more.

Deaf Havana Live at Bristol O2 Academy - Review

After what seemed like an age (and was in fact 20 minutes), Deaf Havana finally take to the stage, opening with current album-opener ASHES, ASHES. The perfect opening track; anthemic, honest, sing-along rock, complemented by some simple-but-effective lighting work.

 

New track, Trigger follows in quick succession, which features some ridiculously absurd drumming from Tom Ogden: one of, if not the, best in the current crop of UK rock drummers, if you ask this guy; which he continues to prove through out the set.

 

The crowd erupts when I’m a Bore, Mostly and Leeches, from 2011’s Fools and Worthless Liars, make an appearance. The set is paced perfectly, ebbing and flowing from their slower numbers like L.O.V.E. Happiness and St. Pauls and ramping up to crowd pleasers 22 and Mildred all delivered with the same level of energy, enthusiasm and re-discovered love and belief in their music; it’s an absolute delight to see. We’re treated to the seldom-performed Tuesday People from Old Souls, which is a welcome surprise to just about everyone in the all-but-sold out Academy. It’s clear when he addresses the crowd that James is struggling with a horrendous cold, sounding like a sexy 70’s jazz vocalist; and having to get brother and lead guitarist Matt to handle between-song banter at points, but this is hardly apparent when he sings, giving it absolutely everything he’s got.

Deaf Havana - James Veck-Gilodi - Bristol. O2 AcademyDeaf Havana - James Veck-Gilodi - Bristol O2 Academy

Highlight of the main set comes in the shape of Cassiopiea, ‘the’ song that bought the band back from the brink. The breakdown and crescendo sends the crowd into a frenzy and all I can do is smile. I remember hearing this song for the first time and being blown away by the departure from the sound on Old Souls, and thinking how good the rhythm work was – and was not disappointed to see it live. Tom and Bassist Lee’s tight rhythm is a treat for both the eyes and ears.

 

The main set is finished with a surprising duo of Anemophobia and Hunstanton Pier (the song they’ve finished with for as long as I can remember!) – with James receiving plenty of help from the crowd with the vocals. They disappear for a token 60 seconds before returning for a 3 song encore. Boston Square gets EVERY single person in the room screaming back at the band, followed by new song Sing, which I was convinced they’d finish with – but they had one more treat, performing the closing track from All These Countless Nights, ‘Pensacola, 2013’, which features a nearly 2 minute outro, fitting for the finale of what’s been a superb set.

 

From a purely biased perspective, the inclusion of ‘Seattle’ (the best track they’ve ever penned in my opinion), would have made it a perfect evening but that’s really nit-picking. Deaf Havana have matured into one of this country’s best bands – with a spectrum of influences which gives them an array of different sounds AND has the live show to back it up. Lets not leave it 4 years between albums next time, eh gents? 

 

5 out of 5 stars

www.deafhavanaofficial.com

Deaf Havana - All These Countless Nights



Article by:

Jonathan Eve

Born in Nottingham and raised in rural Lincolnshire, having nothing but music to keep him occupied, Jonathan moved to the South West in 2007 after backpacking around Europe and fell in love with Bristol after joining the local American Football team. When he’s not contributing to the entertainment reviews he spends most of his time developing software (i.e. just listening to music all day), cycling through the Cotswolds or can be found at Five Guys with his face in an All-The-Way Cheeseburger.