Knives
Outdated Blue Final, London
twentieth March 2025
Bristol band Knives go to London to carry out a free present as a warm-up for the forthcoming Nice Escape Competition in Brighton. Keith Goldhanger (phrases) and Robyn Skinner (pictures) report again.
There’s an indication on the unlocked venue door saying that it’ll open at 7.30pm. We wait patiently to enter East London’s Outdated Blue Final that includes three bands warming up for Might’s Nice Escape Competition in Brighton. Knives are due on at 7.45pm (sadly we don’t have time for the opposite two bands tonight as a result of a few of us have properties to go to). By 7.40pm one keen punter boldly opens the door and whether or not the venue is prepared or not we’re stepping into.
There’s a few dozen folks within the room standing and looking at this Bristol six-piece already on stage, not likely doing something besides (in all probability) discussing their soundcheck which will have ended thirty seconds in the past. At 7.45pm exactly an almighty eruption happens. It’s the sound of Knives in all their glory, the band we noticed take the roof off in Gas at Cardiff’s Sŵn Competition final October, the band we’ve been making an attempt unsuccessfully to contact to inform them how sensible we expect they’re, and the band that anybody fortunate sufficient to catch inside any one of many UK’s small venues will love for no matter thirty or forty minutes of their lives they will decide to.
Such is the vitality this band have it’s debatable whether or not they themselves might final for much longer than this period of time. Knives are a band that leap round, scream, shout and might go away observers out of breath simply by watching. It’s thrilling to watch and they look like a bunch of people who find themselves actually having enjoyable doing what they do; not merely going via the motions earlier than forcing a T-shirt in your face, taking pictures of one another and gathering everybody’s e-mail handle earlier than leaving. In addition they seem barely stunned by the enjoyment the rising crowd inside The Outdated Blue Final are producing again at them. They’re right here one minute going loopy, and forty minutes later they’re gone…..disappearing into the evening to heaven is aware of the place (in all probability again to the West Nation).
It’s been one other magnificent efficiency. Thrilling, loud, messy, fist-pumping euphoric (publish) punk rock music with a pumping bass and honking saxophone. A number of voices that ebb and movement at totally different ranges; not too severe and by no means foolish.
With an album about to be launched to the world later this yr on the Marshall label (Remedy?, Nova Twins … the amps and audio system we’ve recognized about for many years) it gained’t be lengthy earlier than the crowds are cramming themselves inside venues in bigger numbers to witness these thrilling moments the band serve up.
It hasn’t taken too lengthy for this room to replenish as soon as the band have been in full movement and when it does it’s famous that we aren’t the one folks within the room being swept off our ft. It’s one other free present, and one which these of us who can’t afford lots of the non-free exhibits within the capital in 2025 can’t ignore (particularly if we really feel the necessity to exit each evening and know do what we’re searching for). And this night it’s sufficient to ship us residence blissful earlier than the 9 O’clock Information begins.
Knives gigs are a thrill a second: a relentless cacophony of superb noise that shakes the foundations of the venue in a means we’ve not skilled since Fucked Up appeared right here a few years in the past. They’ve given us all we wanted for one night.
Go and see them as quickly as you possibly can, fasten your seat belts and put together yourselves for an unforgettable journey.
As somebody as soon as mentioned: the very best issues in life are free.
~
Extra Knives info may be discovered right here
Phrases by Keith Goldhanger. Extra writing by Keith on Louder Than Warfare may be discovered at his creator’s archive. You also can discover Keith on Fb Instagram and Bluesky.
Photographs by Robyn Skinner
We have now a small favour to ask. Subscribe to Louder Than Warfare and assist maintain the flame of impartial music burning. Click on the button beneath to see the extras you get!
