Review – King Krule – The Bristol Gig Guide

The Marble Factory, 12th June

With the sun beating down on a summer ready bristol, the most common question I heard asked was “ are you seeing king krule?”

in all the gigs I have shot over the last few years, little have had such reverent anticipation, with Archy Marshalls fourth studio album “space heavy” being the cause of incredible excitement after almost two years of radio silence since his last record. Bristol was more than ready and Marshall certainly put on a show to behold. Not only did he and his talented band play in stiflingly boiling conditions, but also played an unbelievable 17 song set, which catered to old and new listeners alike.

Beginning with the heart breaking “perfecto miserable” the set started with a somber tone, the haunting track settling in the crowd for the night, lyrics delving into infatuation rang through the Marble factories walls, and i found myself swaying along with the rest of the crowd despite shooting at the same time. I was ensnared and thrilled to be in the same room as so many hardcore fans, who sang along from beginning to end, every word being belted loudly enough that I’m sure it could’ve been heard from the city centre.

Marshall’s lyricism is breathtaking , the poetic beauty of his tracks breaks and remakes you in pendulum; having not seen him live before, I was taken aback as to how identical his live vocals are to his recordings, his production value mirrored seamlessly into his live performance.

Marshall was joined on stage by bassist James Wilson, George bass on drums, Jack Rowell on guitar, Jamie issac on electronics and Ignacio Salvadores on saxophone; Salvadores in particular received multiple rounds of applause throughout for the show for good reason, the saxophonists stage presence and technical prowess brought the roof down and is obviously a fan favourite.

The pace of the show ebbed and flowed perfectly, running through new tunes off the new album such as “seaforth” the lead single off of the new album. The song is an intimate ballad into finding inner peace in times of chaos, and already an instant hit with fans and critics alike, with it’s bluesy chord progressions creating a sanctum like state for the sweating crowd. “ from the swamp” also really jumped out at me, it’s tempo far faster paced than many of his songs, so much so that a multitude of mosh pits opened, the fan’s appreciation for the music being showcased by the chaos that I saw from on top of the balcony. Marshall kept up the energy from start to finish, the profoundness of his love for his fan base was made clear by his commentary on how hot it was and to make sure that fans kept hydrated and respected each others space.

The marble factory was in luck on Monday night, Marshall treated his fans to some of his most iconic pieces such as “dum surfer” which was definitely one of the highlights of the night, it’s build accumulating into an uproar of sound from the gig goers and band alike, who screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs. I was lucky enough to have seen not one, but two of my favourite songs of his live “ Easy easy” a simplistic but punchy track that digs into the pain of every day living, and a reminder to keep your chin up.

The encore was a genuine pinch me moment for myself and I’m sure the rest of the room too. Having listened to “out getting ribs” almost every night for the past year, hearing it live blew me away, the crowd and Marshall sang in perfect harmony, the song began with a single blue and white spotlight shining down onto the london native, ( apt considering the emotional connection the fans have with the song.) The slow build at the beginning of the track induced shouts of “c’mon archy!!!’ Which whilst standing above the crowd created this perfect sense of togetherness . Many a tear was shed and was a beautiful end to the night, the importance of King krule to so many was made increasingly obvious throughout the evening, many a musician will call their fanbase a family, but it is so rare that I have felt that feeling of familiarity and mutual respect between artist and their avid fanbase in the flesh.

Marshall has never forgotten where he’s come from; his show felt incredibly intimate and he performs just like he did when he first started his rightfully iconic alias of King krule 11 years ago, and I have no doubt he will reach further heights as he continues to create incredible projects.

@rosie_sh00ts