GIG | Alpines @ Omeara London, 06/04/2017
The quaint, hidden bar and faux baroque gig space that is Omeara, London Bridge was filled with punters at Alpines’ sold-out headline show on Thursday night.
The evening began with a brief performance by Henry Green, followed closely by One Little Indian signed band, Tusks.
Tusks – otherwise known as London artist and producer Emily Underhill - opened with a mellow collection of songs aptly featured on her second EP ‘False’. The growing crowd welcomed the 3-piece support band, hanging onto the front-woman’s every delicate breath as she whispered melodically into the microphone.
Underhill’s stage presence whilst playing both keys and guitar was well-received – her infectious smile and girlish demeanor deemed ‘adorable’ by all in the room. And yet, her vocals proved her to be more than just a pretty face, reaching those powerful notes without any seeming effort.
After saying farewell to Tusks, twenty minutes of roadie setup was to take place, and the growing anticipation of the soon-to-perform headlining act seemed to fill the room.
Then, enter the goddess, draped in heavenly white, cloaked modestly by a soft cream trench fitted perfectly to her figure, and met with a confident stance suitable to of divinity.
Alpines’ Catherine Pockson hyptnotised the audience before letting free the heavenly vocals we’ve found ourselves addicted to following the band’s October 2016 album release, ‘Another River’.
Though one can express extreme adoration for the front-woman (and it’s difficult not to), Alpines’ music would not be the distinctive organic sound we know it to be without the perceivable musical talent of Bob Matthews – the man in the unassuming Hawaiian shirt, responsible for the unique beats at the sound deck left of stage.
Though at first their appearance contradicts ‘casual’ with ‘upper-echelon’, their unusual fashion fusion is symbolic of their merging musical talents, creating the matchless and deeply heart-felt songs that had audiences swaying, singing, bobbing and cheering for the duration of the set.
Props go to the lighting team for creating the perfect accompaniment to Alpines’ set from start to finish. ‘Love and Money’ – a popular track amongst fans began with gentle synth before Pockson’s strong and resound vocals merged effortlessly. As if touched by lilac fairy dust, the soft lighting complemented the band’s ethereal sound before moving into that punchy chorus. Come the drums mid-chorus, and the entire audience could be seen moving as one, or rather shaking their hips low and wide. This band’s got some serious groove.
Before the divine duo broke into ‘Motionless’, Pockson introduced the talented band behind her, two of which were the entrancing soul singers seamlessly complementing Pockson’s vocals throughout the night. Rare as it is to find yourself absorbed by backing vocalists, the singers proved their range of talent, engaging the audience with both exceptional vocals and inadvertent synchronised movements without stealing the limelight from Pockson herself.
Matthews amazed, humbly working the sound deck one minute, and subtly taking to the guitar in the next, proving he truly is a man of incredible musical know-how.
One quick glance around the room saw all lovers entwined in unwavering embrace, as Pockson echoed “celestial when you hold me… coz nobody makes me feel the way you make me feel” at the commencement of ‘Stay’, and yet again, dancing to Matthews’ damn catchy backing beat and incomparable instrumental sounds.
But it was the fan favourite and popular single release ‘Heaven’ that had the audience really excited. Matthews’ tribal instrumentation provoked a sudden flux of finger air drumming, neck jiving and body bouncing as the crowd joined in with Pockson’s powerful first verse and that easily mind-stamped, well-written chorus.
Alpines is a live band that requires no onstage tricks or special effects to attract and retain their audience. Theirs is a band of sheer talent – musically, vocally and lyrically.
Pockson and Matthews are deserving of the accolade they received at London’s Omeara on Thursday night, and should expect to receive more as their second album ‘Another River’ grows in popularity.
And one thing’s for sure. Pockson is a fashion icon in the making. Let it be known we called it first!
