It’s been a hot minute since I have been to a gig in Wigan. Despite being only a ten-minute train journey away from where I live it’s just never a destination that crosses my mind. Sorry, Wigan. However, since it’s been well over five years since I ventured to the town for a gig night, I got myself over to The Boulevard. A staple of the Wigan live music scene. You know it’s going to be a good rock show when you have to descend a staircase to get to the venue. This is truly underground music. The night saw three bands take to the stage, local hotshots Mundane Act, the enigmatic insanity of Enuma Elish and capping it off with the powerhouses that are Bad Heritage. Now, I had never heard of any of these bands before the night but reliable sources told me that this was going to be a kick-ass night of music. So, I thought, what the hell?!
Opening up the night was the alt-rock four-piece, Mundane Act. I have to admit they were pretty freaking good. Their set was fairly consistent as they interweaved between different sub-genres of rock. One minute they would be in a crunchy southern rock groove the next they were blasting it for the ceiling, full indie-rock style. You can tell they had that spark as they displayed some technically impressive songwriting elements. The drum work has some pretty interesting fills, the bass kept that pumping energy going throughout the set and the guitar work was clean and impressive. Musically, it was quite tight. I liked a lot of the smaller moments of the set, the integration of the cowbell, the subtle little bass licks adding life to the foundation of the music, and the beautiful clean guitar licks bursting into ripping riffs and solos. Whilst nothing absolutely revolutionary in terms of the musicality, there was definitely comfort in the consistency of their tone. There were definitely attempts at crowd work and I appreciated that, they knew how to play to the audience but they felt hesitant to really perform in between songs. The band were way more in their element when playing the music itself than the space between the songs. I think this band has a great foundation to do something really great. Their songs are solid, they have a lot of confidence and they have a great understanding and eclectic taste in rock music. There’s a spark here and I think they could be an interesting band to watch out for in the future.
CHECK OUT MUNDANE ACT: SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK
Next up was something completely different. Enuma Elish. This was a complete stand-out set. There was a lot of complexity on display here. Their music was weird and avant-garde and covered topics of mythology and mysticism. It was actually something special, with their music genre-hopping from prog-rock to blues, to funk, to well… Whatever their minds could come up with. So, how was their set? Well, it was definitely something else. Opening on a song called “Ahura Mazda” they made a big impression. The atmospheric tone and the larger-than-life sound really hit me. The roar of the guitar, the pulsating bass guitar and the loud crack of the drums. It all just comes together so well. Then floating on top of the production were the vocals, every moment vocalist, Lish just really gave it her all. Let me tell you she could really put some power behind that voice. On top of all the insanity from a musical perspective, her voice was very much the grounding force. Which is a unique take on prog-rock. Her consistent vocals allowed for the guitar, bass and drums to go wild and in weird directions. Then all of it can be brought back to that vocal performance. Their new single “The Sun Behind The Sun” was a complete ride, songs like “Brahman” and “Thoth” caught my ears for their deep introspective sound and wild creativity with the tunes and musical themes. You could tell that they were just having a blast with the set. Each member of the band was completely engrossed in their respective responsibility. I started the set not really sure of their direction and I ended the set having fully enjoyed the ride. Their music is a complex and winding puzzle that left me interested to hear more of what they can do.
Headlining the night were the popular and entertaining, Bad Heritage. Honestly, after the first two acts, I didn’t know where this night was heading. Honestly, this is the sort of music that always gets me going. Big riffs, big solos and big personalities. This was a really great set, I have to give props where they’re earned. The riffs were bold, the bass was thick and groovy, the drums cracked loud with a snap and the vocals sparkled and tore through the atmosphere of the venue. I mean, this was a purer rock ‘n’ roll than anything I’ve seen in a minute. Vocalist, Courtney shone as a real personality and her confidence and pageantry kept the crowd thoroughly entertained. Their songs were really fun to listen to, with groovy and crunchy riffs, reminiscent of old-school stoner rock bands but with the loud braggadocio of glam rock. It was a captivating performance. I think it’s because all of the elements worked through and through. Their set really came alive with their cover of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”. I mean if you’re going to cover anything it’s certainly one of the classic heavy metal karaoke staples. The set just went wild from there. I think they encapsulated what I love about gig nights in these smaller venues. The fun, the unpredictability, the sheer passion of doing something you love for nothing more than the love of doing it. It’s really something special when you experience performances like this, a ride-or-die audience, catchy hooks and riffs, and personalities that keep you involved and invested in the performance. The crowd chanted for one more song, and even though Bad Heritage didn’t have another song scheduled for the set, the band pushed on by repeating a song from earlier in the set, closing the night out strong.
CHECK OUT BAD HERITAGE: FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM
So, this was a fun night. It felt like a great secret that I had been kept out of and now, I was in. It’s not every day you hear every band on a lineup get an encore at the crowd's behest. All of the bands put on a great set designed to keep the audience entertained. I was completely taken aback by the staggering creativity and engaging fun of all the band. With the young fire of Mundane Act, the eclectic and diverse Enuma Elish and the crushing swagger of Bad Heritage it was a night to remember. If you ever see a random show on Facebook events and you have nothing else to do, get yourself to those shows. Even if you have no idea who’s playing, it may be a night to remember.
So, this was a fun night. It felt like a great secret that I had been kept out of and now, I was in. It’s not every day you hear every band on a lineup get an encore at the crowd's behest. All of the bands put on a great set designed to keep the audience entertained. I was completely taken aback by the staggering creativity and engaging fun of all the band. With the young fire of Mundane Act, the eclectic and diverse Enuma Elish and the crushing swagger of Bad Heritage it was a night to remember. If you ever see a random show on Facebook events and you have nothing else to do, get yourself to those shows. Even if you have no idea who’s playing, it may be a night to remember.