As gigs go, Bank Holiday Sunday in August was pretty much the ideal day to choose. The location….. the effervescent yet grungy charm of the Hull Adelphi and throw in 3 talented bands. A concoction of a raw and upcoming talent, splashed with a large dose of Indie local royalty and finishing with a sprinkle of South Yorkshire spectacle, set everyone up for a top night of sweaty music action.
To allude to the venue once more, Hull Adelphi continues to stand strong amid it’s uncompromising neighbours of dark, terraced housing….. a beam of unassuming light, battling its way and gripping onto everything that music should be… a Hull icon….
Queuing up before the doors open, a splatter of the wise and young stand in line, feet navigating the large puddles that lay outside, awaiting to enter the splendour of Adelphi and see what the evening has in store.
No need for fancy tickets, bouncers on the door or strict searches before entering, simply telling them your name and a highlighter to mark you in is all it takes. A throwback that is a sign of things to come.
A tiny corridor of history, lathered with years of usage of those who entered before us, allows us to pass through to the main room. Not quite the vast opening expected of a huge arena, but a sense of a space that is ours, ours to share for the evening and make new friends… as Keelan Graney - lead singer of the Rosadocs modestly requested as he entered the stage.
Prior to the Rosadocs triumphant set, two very different support acts, did what they do and perform, entertain and clearly love what they do. The energy in the Adelphi was so so evident from the first minute of Pablo Carrizo’s performance. A one man Sam Fender-esqe guitar wielding bundle of energy that dazzled his way through a set of incredibly catchy tunes, loop peddles and riffs accompanying his polished vocals.
A man clearly followed by friends and fans, those in attendance sang and danced along with his every song, with those who had seen him before, joined in a mutual appreciation by those witnessing him for the very first time. I personally instantly looked for his socials immediately after his set, following him and looking out for his future gigs. A local lad, in a local institution, with his pals and clearly having the best time…. of which he continued to do so throughout the whole night, dancing, chatting and making a huge impression on those who were there. One to keep an eye on for sure…..
A tough act to follow, no worries… step up Dirty Sterling. A 5 piece indie blast from across the river who swaggered their way through a set filled with attitude, charisma and noise. They were polished, experienced and wise to the scene and they knew they had all in attendance in their sights.
Blazing through their set, fans joined in with the outstanding memorable songs, guitars, saxophone, drums, bass guitars….. you name it…. all in perfect harmony and leaving a big old smash of “have that” as they finished they set to a huge applause and gratitude from those who admired.
Two down, one to go. My £9.00 I spent on a ticket was already a right bargain!
Just before the headliners entered the frame, an opportunity to take in the surroundings one more time. There was little divide in the venue between performers and punters, the stage merely a trivial step up from the beer covered floor. This is what music is all about. Being up close, low ceilings and a sense of being truly at the gig – with the bands and listening to every word, every chord and drum hit. None of this separation, barriers or security preventing even a passing comment being able to be made to the band. Made ever more prevalent as all the bands engage with the crowd before and after, setting up their own equipment and being there, in the moment with everyone else. I love it. I will always love it and it should be treated with respect, with loyalty and remember that music is about bands like this. Bands who perform and love it, who put in the hard work to keep music real and available like this. We need to appreciate it and make it last.
And on this theme, as the Rosadocs came on stage, they simply ask for everyone to come one step closer, duly obliged by all, enabling us all to be that bit nearer and to embrace it even more.
The Rosadocs hail from the South of the County and bring along with them a set full of unrestrained guitar and anthemic tracks, performed with a confidence and swagger that they deserve. Intertwined with a natural essence of a certain band also hailing from their neck of the woods, they power through a set of their ever increasing backlog of tunes, balancing the set with a mix of in your face singalongs, to stripped back elegance. They are a band who are crafted from the Indie rock mould, but are so much more.
Noticeable standout tunes include Towards the Sun, Run Away Instead and the powerful Where You’re Supposed, which all effortlessly sit in their perfect positions of their well-rehearsed set.
They are a band who are evidently moving up, bigger venues will undoubtedly come along and they may not always remember this particular gig in the years to come….. but you gave us all a night to remember, a collective superb musical spectacle that we all hope will be a small step in the big future of the headline band but also those who graced the Adelphi stage before them.
Add comment
Comments