It was by all accounts a very grey day here in Nottingham. But the anticipation of seeing The Pretty Reckless perform tonight was enough for me to look past early starts, commutes and onto this evening.
My usual gig crowd was AWOL tonight; this at least lets me write this in peace (and a little more sober!). This said I nearly did not even get in to this sold out gig with my name being slightly wrong on the door, only in very dark light can I look like a Kim.
The pretty reckless lead singer, Taylor Monson seemed to be serving what the crowds wanted, after a twenty five minute delay which seems to have been caused by a longer sound check. The set started calmer than I expected; playing “Follow me Down” to the crowds’ warm welcome. A few songs down the whole venue seemed to change up a gear erupting into a chorus of “you make me wanna die” with suitable vigor.
Having seen The Pretty Reckless many times before at festivals this was the first time seeing them headline their own show. Their sound transferred into a venue well, a credit to the sound techs that put a great deal of work into the kit before the show during the change over.
Taylor is a great lead singer to the band, having a way of working the stage which sets the bands visual performance during their live sets apart from other bands and she occupies the stage with her flamboyance with distinctive flair. Perhaps helped by her acting background in Gossip Girl. The rest of the band members Ben Phillips (guitar), Jamie Perkins (drums) and Mark Damon (bass) performed brilliantly and seem to create a surrounding frame for Taylor’s more flamboyant performance.
It was a pity that they had to skip a few of the sets planned tracks to comply with the venues curfew for its transformation into a club night, Taylor tried to convince the powers to let them continue from the stage, the its “rock and roll” testament got support from the crowd.
This was mine and I guess nearly all the crowds first time seeing the support act, The Cruel Knives. They did a fine job stirring the crowd. Many of which must have come straight into the main room from the queue that was stretching around the corner when I arrived. The Cruel Knives formed from two of Heavens Basement artists (any fans sorry had to look that bit up!) are a new band with their debut single out now. If you like The Pretty Reckless sound you should have a listen.
Words and photos by Chris Marsh
