Location: ‘Downstairs at the Dome‘ London, UK
Headliner: Grails (check em out on Bandcamp)
Supporting act: James Blackshaw (him too)
Venturing out to a gig on a Monday night will always hold a certain charm. Negating the impending dread of another week, surrounded by kindred sweaty spirits, enveloped in music that has sometimes been a companion for a couple of decades, time seems to lose its grip for a blissful 90 minutes. Grails, performing at Downstairs at the Dome on a quiet Monday evening, embodied this essence.
Hastings-based folk boy James Blackshaw kicked off the night with his mesmerizing 12-string acoustic performance. His emotive and hypnotic melodies drew the audience in, though I couldn’t help but wish he hadn’t encouraged chatter between songs. Despite the brevity of his set, Blackshaw’s textured and immersive compositions left a lasting impression. His music seamlessly complemented the overall mood, contributing to an atmosphere that felt wonderfully attuned.
In the realm of post rock, Grails defy easy classification with the band themselves expressing their aversion to being labelled as such. Dispensing with the usual projections, their music, contemplative and almost visceral, needs no embellishment. The band’s stage presence is not ostentatious in any way, shape or form, yet their performance is nothing short of mesmerizing. Each song carries its own narrative, guiding the audience through a kaleidoscope of emotions. With my camera in hand, hearing “Burden of Hope” live felt almost surreal, a testament to their cinematic prowess further epitomized by the evocative “Sad and Illegal”.
Grails’ live performance is a masterclass in cohesion, effortlessly weaving intricate melodies that appear to unfold organically yet are meticulously constructed. Their music transcends the generic “climaxes,” opting instead for expansive, soothing soundscapes. Engaging yet tranquil, it’s an energy that has a way of calming the soul, holding the audience captive in enraptured silence. Grails are a band with a long history and that shows: their tight-knit connection to one another on stage aptly extends to the audience, fostering a bond that resonated throughout the entire performance.
Witnessing Grails a second time after many years proved to be a much different experience which to me is always the sign of a great band (time might have something to do with it, too). I got gloomy and emotional but I was also filled with a sense of optimism and sheer joy. It was proof of the enduring power of live music and the profound impact of a remarkable albeit underrated band.
