Friday was a special night. The poster may have said Elvana, but it was the other name on the bill that immediately made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up: Marisa And The Moths, finally playing in Bristol.
A band whose self-titled debut album is one of my favorite albums of the past ten years, and a band responsible, more than any other, for getting me through lockdown with their constant live streams. MATM is a very special band to me, but one I’d never seen live until now.
I was nervous, hoping Bristol would show the band why it needs to be a recurring stop on future tours. I needn’t have worried. Despite the very early stage time due to an early curfew at the venue, Bristol showed up. The Marble Factory floor filled as soon as the band stepped on stage.
As the lights flickered and the first strains of “Needy” kicked in, the evening became lost to space and time. The power this band has to rip souls bare with their emotive lyrics and wall of grunge rock is unparalleled. It’s music at its most raw and emotionally charged. Finally hearing “Skin” and “Choke” live induced goosebumps on the skin and a lump in the throat. Enough for me to forget I was supposed to be shooting and simply sing along and be in the moment. Hearing three tracks from the debut album, with the sophomore album “What Doesn’t Kill You” set for release May 3rd was a truly special moment.
Marisa is a paragon of power and poise in her performance with a vocal to rival any rockstar of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It would be impossible to focus elsewhere if it were not for the immense talent of Liam on Bass, a swirling, whirling, bass-wielding Goliath, and Alez on lead guitar cutting rockstar silhouettes into the smoke. Alex on Drums completes a lineup to take the band into the promised land.
That land will be within touching distance given the taste of the new crowd-funded album that the rest of the set provides. Bristol gets four of the album’s standouts with “Get It Off My Chest” and “Sad,” the perfect showcases for preordering the new record and joining MATM on their upcoming tour.
📸📝 @bristolnomad_gigphotography
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
