Hide Your Eyes with The And Lost & Jack Ellis – 40 Miles Of Static album launch show at The Booth Hall 18/2/17
Article by Music Reviewer Gavin Brown
Hide Your Eyes celebrated the launch of their latest album 40 Miles Of Static with a hometown gig at The Booth Hall in front of a healthy and energetic crowd eager to help honour this occasion in style. Unfortunately, we just missed opening act (and Hide Your Eyes man) Lewis Armiger do his acoustic set but have it on good authority that he got the night off to a rousing start (and he definitely did his thing later with the headliners, more of which later), so it was down to South Wales singer/songwriter Jack Ellis to kick things off for us and he certainly did that.
JACK ELLIS
Ellis took to the stage flanked by his band and proceeded to deliver a short but sweet set of acoustic songs with the sound bolstered by the band with the likes of The Storm and new track Felony grabbing the audiences attention throughout with a style that had shades of Jeff Buckley and Jose Gonzalez and a definite warm attitude to his delivery. As the set came to a stirring conclusion, it was evident that he had made some new fans tonight with his passionate singing and playing, and this set the night up nicely with the crowd declaring themselves thoroughly warmed up.
THE LOVED AND LOST
After a short break and a couple of minor technical difficulties involving a laptop and some samples, Worcester’s The Loved And Lost hit the stage and it was immediately apparent that the delay in setting up was vital as the sampled orchestral symphony blasted from the speakers and enhanced the bands metal sound. With their powerful female vocals, the band have a Lacuna Coil and Nightwish vibe about them, especially when the samples were in full effect, although they did occasionally get drowned out by the bands heavy rhythms – but overall the band played an enthusiastic and vibrant set that had the crowd clapping along with them. The band’s bassist and guitarist ended the set playing in the crowd with their drummer lurched over his kit battering a primal rhythm to the final song’s conclusion and The Loved And Lost left the stage to glowing applause from the crowd.
HIDE YOUR EYES
After the laid back passion of Jack Ellis and the heavy nature of The Loved And Lost showcased a melding of different styles and sounds showing off the diversity of the bill, it was time for the headliners and their brand of similarly eclectic noise, and Hide Your Eyes didn’t disappoint anyone in attendance with a triumphant set.
The band work tirelessly as they rip through the 40 Miles Of Static album with highlights coming in thick and fast, especially in the form of album tracks Hopeless and My Last Regret which received rapturously applause from the crowd.
With this being a hometown gig, there was a buoyant atmosphere in the venue with the band unable to take the smiles off their faces. Singers Stephen (who ended up singing in the crowd more than once) and Lewis (who we did finally got to see perform!) were belting out the lyrics with enthusiasm while the rest of the band had just as much of an energetic stomp, and the energy given out by the band was matched in kind by the crowd from start to finish with an enthusiastic mosh pit (complete with someone dressed as a unicorn) breaking out and adding to the atmosphere.
As the band ended their set with a cover of Drown by Bring Me The Horizon done in Hide Your Eyes style, the night came to a close and showed just how talented the band are with everyone who was here left satisfied. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see the band live again as this was a fantastic performance to end a great night of live music. Go out and buy their album and don’t miss them next time they play!
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