Live Gloom

• Posted: Wed 2 Nov 2011
• By: Lizzie Evans

Last Saturday, saw the October edition of Live Gloom come to town at the O2 Academy Islington. Just a quick walk from Angel Station, the night saw four incredibly talented acts brought to the stage.

First up was acoustic indie-folk songstress, Liz Lawrence. Described as "Florence-minus-the-hollering’ by Q Magazine, Liz’s sensual vocals and heartfelt performances put her up there with the likes of Laura Marling and Feist.
With her healthy cocktail of catchy and upbeat tracks, along with moody and melancholic lyrics, Liz has the potential to make it big in the mainstream and really hold her own.

You can tell that she is influenced by an array of music genres, ranging from reggae to pop, and really knows how to make a crowd pay attention to her.

Next onstage were the rather nervous Presuming Ed.

Emerging from Glastonbury, one of the most renowned musical epicentres in the UK, the indie five-piece draw inspiration from bands including The Smiths and New Order.

After playing slots at festivals such as Sunrise Celebration and Farm Festival, this summer, as well as being a finalist for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, it was nice to see the band play a much more intimate set.
Their blissfully poetic lyrics and easy-on-the-ears mellow sound got the crowd at Live Gloom happily tapping their feet along, and managed to put a smile on everyone’s faces.

Next came the very charming The Great Last. Hailing from Hertfordshire, the talented quintet were a breath of fresh air, with their combination of self-proclaimed ‘dark, contemplative synths’ and ‘haunting vocals’.

Their prominent basslines and hard-hitting harmonies are the perfect mix of early Joy Division, and The Strokes, and provide a modern alternative to the current indie/alternative scene.

Charismatic lead singer Matt Davey, along with his bandmates managed to draw a shy audience in with their contemporary indie anthems and caught everybody’s attention.

Headlining was the amazingly talented Sheen. Fronted by the beautiful Aneta, her stage presence alone meant that it was impossible to not pay attention, with a performance that literally left you with shivers.

Influenced by My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins, the shoegazing five piece’s mix of early 90’s riffs, with faultless melodies, brought a fresh and alternative edge to the night.

Overall, the London based band gave what can only be described as a mesmerising performance, with a sound that took over the whole of the Academy.

The night continued with the ever-popular ‘Feeling Gloomy’club night, playing you through to the early hours of the morning with tracks from the likes of The Cure, Nirvana, and The Pixies. Well worth the £4.50 entry fee!