By David O’Neill
This was billed as a new single launch party for Florence Black which sold out so quickly that a second night was added. Fortunately, I managed to acquire a ticket for the first night at the last minute, (the wonders of Florence Black fan group on Facebook – thanks Chris).
Less Than Hollow are a Kent-based alt rock band originally comprised of Adam Jerome (guitar/vocals) and erstwhile friends to perform live, but it appears that he has now developed two full-time accomplices in Aiden Chakwowa (bass) and a very energetic Elliott Philpott on drums.
With a set of mainly heavy/alt rock sounds this was their first trip to Wales – given this performance, it’s not likely to be their last either. Kicking off with ‘Karma’ and a heavy bass driven riff this sounded like it was going to be well received by the very partisan crowd who were obviously looking forward to the Tydfil Three by the number of T-shirts on display.
‘Expendable’ followed this: this is currently not on Spotify, but ‘Critical’ and ‘War’ both are. I really liked ‘Critical’: it has a bit of a Green Day feel about it. ‘Wreck My Life’ continued in this vein but alternated with almost acoustic sound and bass/drum driven track, a nice sound to it. With the next single, ‘You Don’t Exist’, finishing the set it came to an end a little bit too quickly for me but I’m sure I’ll catch them on another bill somewhere soon.
After a rapid change over the “homecoming/single launch” started off with Tristan Thomas playing guitar as they all entered the door to get on the stage.
A quick look at Setlist FM would have had you thinking they’d kick off with ‘Zulu’, but this whole set turned out to be a journey through the tracks that have made FB what they are: a polished stage worn trio of incredibly tight musicians. ‘Bird On A Chain’ had Perry and Fozz booming the bass and drums and the now gutteral voice of Tristan screwing everything he could from his well-worn Gibson. A breathless two- and a-bit minutes then ‘The Deep End’ had all the crowd singing along with the hook and headbanging to the max. The way to follow this opening could only be the new single, ‘Start Again’ from the forthcoming second album.
These boys don’t drag things out; their longest track in the whole setlist was only five minutes but every track is full of energy, with hard thumping drums and basslines that make your teeth rattle. With tracks from all three EPs and ‘Weight Of The World’, there was something in the set list for the most ardent FB fans, and any newcomers (believe me there weren’t very many newcomers) would be rushing to get the music from wherever they could. I’m only waiting for the second album to add to my collection to complete the set.
‘Smoke’ from the second EP was rapidly followed by ‘Ghost’ from the first one. Then we had ‘Can You Feel It’, ‘Black Cat’ and probably one of my favourite tracks, ‘Grove Street’, which I have loved since I first heard it several years ago (not the version off ‘WOTW’). Without so much as a missed breath ‘Down’, ‘The Ride’ and ‘Pierrepoint’ (yes, it is about the famous last hangman in the ÜK) followed.
At this point the lights went out, a taped track of what appeared to be tribal chanting came on as the introduction to… you guessed it – ‘Zulu’. It could only have been made better by a run of the video of Stanley Baker and Michael Caine on the screen in the background. The crowd went wild during the chorus, singing as loud as Tristan and punching the air with enthusiasm. Singing about Welsh Borderers in South Wales with beer consumption on a Saturday night was always going to garner this response!
How could they follow that! Oh I know, the longest track of the night (and a Florence Black staple): their cover of ‘Breadfan’! The final track had to be ‘Sun And Moon’, the lead single from ‘WOTW’.
Everyone knew they had been in the presence of a seriously professional future headliner at many rock festivals. This is only going to be seriously enhanced by their appearances at many festivals this summer, including Steelhouse and Hellfest, on the Sunday on the same stage as Slipknot.
Well done Tristan, Perry and Fozz: bosh, home run! It was only a small matter of doing it all again in the same venue the next day.