By Scott Hays
There is a specific kind of magic that happens in the Georgian Theatre when the humidity hits 100% and the walls start to sweat. It’s a venue built for volume, and on a biting January night, three bands from the North East’s fertile music scene converged to turn the historic space into a pressure cooker of fuzz and fury.
Middlesbrough-based Onlooker have long been one of the region’s best-kept secrets. Their set was a relentless barrage of staccato riffs and pummel-you-into-submission percussion. Leaving the stage with no punches pulled, they left the audience stunned by the sheer intensity of their performance.
Sunderland trio, Claudia have rapidly become one of the most exciting prospects in the region’s DIY scene. Named with a nod to a certain fringe-wearing broadcaster, their set was anything but prime-time friendly. Drawing heavily from the ’90s riot grrrl playbook (think Bikini Kill meets L7), Claudia delivered a masterclass in sharp, jagged, riot infused punk rock. They had everything to prove tonight in what was their biggest gig to date; they stepped up and delivered. Ferocious and fearless – fully belonged on the big stage at the Georgian Theatre.
Pigs x7 are no longer just a “cult” band; they are a finely tuned machine of heavy-psych perfection. In the intimate confines of the Georgian Theatre, they reminded everyone that while they might play with the tropes of metal and stoner rock, they do so with a sincerity and a death drive that few can match. The sheer physical force of the performance was staggering. The bass didn’t just play notes; it moved the air, vibrating through the floorboards and into the ribcages of the front row. The dual-guitar attack provided a wall of fuzz that was thick enough to lean against, while the drums hammered home a primal, driving heartbeat that refused to let up. Vocalist Matthew Batley stalked the stage like a tightly wound spring exploding on demand.
Tonight was loud, dangerous, and uniquely Northern. Possibly the most visceral and intense gig I have ever witnessed.
