Reviews

Gnarwhals, Holy Pinto, College and Takudzwa at The Hatchet Inn in Bristol

Posted on: 2014-09-18

I really had so much fun at The Hatchet Inn last night, and cannot recommend Withdraw Records? future events enough to anyone who wants to support the local and DIY music scene.

---

 

Another brilliantly crafted punk fest from Bristol based alternative record label Withdraw Records was hosted on Tuesday 16 September 2014 at the Hatchet Inn. Four bands of small following played to an intimate crowd in one of my favourite underrated venues in Bristol.

The first band on were the brilliantly unpronounceable Takudzwa, a fledgling punk band who gave an energetic performance that consisted of almost math-rock style breakdowns, an extremely strong lead vocal from Max Elliot and some unsurprisingly excellent drumming from Withdraw Records’ own James Dyer. A particularly entertaining set as every few moments the band would turn and laugh at each other as if they had slipped up, although in this genre I hardly think that matters. One massively positive aspect of these DIY gigs is the intimacy and relaxed nature. There are no barriers or elevated stages, just music and people and the occasional fairy light. With regards to the band themselves, I would certainly recommend them, but as far as I can see nothing exists of them online. Keep an eye out around Bristol for further gigs though, as I have a feeling their live performances will develop into something pretty special. Last minute creds go to the third member of the band, who’s name remains a mystery, as he learned the band’s songs in a couple of weeks for the purposes of the gig.

Second up were Holy Pinto, a band from Manchester who take inspiration from The Gaslight Anthem, Brand New and The Weakerthans among others. The band consists of just two members, Aymen on vocals and guitars and Ryan on drums. This pared down duo open their hearts and perform moving and sincere songs that sound a bit like a cross between Manchester Orchestra and the Menzingers. As ever, smaller bands deserve recognition. These two have their sound sorted, although vocals were a little shaky to begin with, and bought something different to the night. You can find their two EPs here: http://holypinto.bandcamp.com.

The third band to play were College, a three piece from Kent who specialise in both clean, slow indie-emo songs and faster punk/math-rock numbers. Their sound is confident and eclectic, clearly pulling influence from far and wide to craft their unique sound. Personal highlight of the night, combining my two favourite genres of punk and math-rock together, the band’s EP Wengsdays is available by clicking here on a name-your-price basis.  They played extremely well, always nice to see a band that gels as a group, playing as though the only way is together, and I will certainly be checking them out again.

Finally, and headlining the night’s musical line-up, was The Gnarwhals, whose most recent album name certainly won’t be mentioned on a family site. An aggressively skate-rock trio of energetic guys with the most gorgeously hideous Hawaiian shirts I have ever had the good fortune to experience, The Gnarwhals display some genuine talent under their witty and carefree front. With songs on all manner of topics as long as those topics involve skating, drinking and smoking, their sound was clear, uplifting and catchy above all else. An excellent turn out for this band, possibly one of Withdraw Records’ biggest so far, saw people moshing with all four limbs a-flailing, crowd surfing and chanting the lines to the songs back at the band with a frenzied enjoyment. A band not so much ‘watched’ as ‘experienced’, I really had so much fun at The Hatchet Inn last night, and cannot recommend Withdraw Records’ future events enough to anyone who wants to support the local and DIY music scene.

4/5

Reviewed by Miri Teixeira for 365Bristol

---