W/ Ead Wood & Mora Telsnake
The Stroppies are a band I had kept an eye on for a while. Well and truly suckered in by their contrast of uplifting melody and melancholy lyrics. Their first European tour, their debut performance in Bristol. It’s fair to say I was looking forward to this one for a while.
If you havent ventured to The Crofters Rights in Stokes Croft before, then I highly recommend you do. It’s a great little venue. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was your standard, millennial, craft beer hang out on first impression. However it is so much more.
Sure you can expect great beer, great service and pizza to die for, but hidden away at the back is its real charm. A surprisingly cavernous and dark live performance area. With an equally surprisingly large stage.
First to step out of the dark corners and make their way to the stage a young songstress by the name of Mora Telsnake.
Her presence both timid and charming, Mora initially looked quite lost on the big stage. However, her songs were full of zest and the watching crowd were suitably intrigued by the young European. Delivered with enough uplifting charm and humour that even when lyrics were forgotten the small crowd took her to their hearts.
Second up Bristol’s Ead Wood.
Fresh from having new single “Plum Cake” named track of the week by Adam Crowther of Radio Bristol’s UPLOAD, the lads bounced onto stage with a real excitement and confidence.
It makes a real difference when you can see a band have fun performing together. And Ead Wood wouldn’t look out of place on Perranporth beach in Cornwall, just chilling, laughing and playing music whilst the sun sets. They have that very relaxed, chilled out vibe about them.
The majority of the set was middle tempo, but make no mistake these boys have the ability to crank it up a notch when required.
Interspersed with humorous banter with the crowd. Ead Wood heartily chalked off a seven track session that was spattered with the occasional political statement.
Our headliners for the evening The Stroppies come to Bristol on leg 10 of their European adventure.
Cutting a very unassuming shape on stage the Aussie four piece set to work in front of a near capacity crowd at Crofters.
You can’t fail to like this band and even if their brand of music isn’t your standard fare, you will find your toes tapping and your head bobbing along. Such is both their likeability and the infectious nature of the melodies.
The Stroppies are what I refer to as a car band. In that you wouldn’t necessarily have them as the centre piece music for a house party, but on a long car journey they are perfect.
Gus, Claudia, Adam and Rory are down to earth individuals that have put a lot of thought into where they want their music to take both them as artists and you as a listener.
A growing back catalogue enabled a 12 set playlist that took from some of the early E.P’s as well as new album “Whoosh”.
Consummate performances of tracks such as “Nothing at all” , “The Spy” and “Go Ahead” all served as the perfect precursor for final and best known track “Cellophane Car”.
The Stroppies leave a room full of warm smiles on their first Bristol performance. Their music and manner making them a lot of new friends.
