By Jase Walker
Not exactly one to let a band get away with just the seldom gig when they’re around, I’ve followed Covet back to Manchester’s Deaf Institute and with Colossal Squid in tow. It’s also worth noting that this show has had one of the biggest queues I’ve seen outside Deaf Institute for a really long time so we’ve got a pretty packed show tonight!
I’ve not actually heard of Colossal Squid before so I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re all about shortly. So far from the start of things, it’s just one guy kicking out some mad drum grooves on his own which seems a little weird but probably isn’t the strangest thing I’ve seen in my time. Some synths come in over the top and yep.. looks like it’s just him on the drums which strikes me as pretty unique. I’m totally into this though, the moment the synths go into overdrive and the drum grooves go absolutely wild there’s an engrossing madness about this show!
It’s definitely the first time I’ve seen such a stripped down sort of performance played near exclusively by just a live drummer and nobody else but I gotta give it to the guy, this is pretty bloody great. The sheer weirdness of this performance is brilliant, I can definitely say hand on heart that this performance is novel to my ears and eyes, and not only is the visual spectacle of it drawing me in but the actual music itself is fantastic. Synths ranging from strings-esque jazzy sounds all the way to bleed-bloop noises both bassy and high pitched, it’s all just a bit bloody good, I love leftfield stuff like this!
With Covet due at any moment now, I’ve never been so boxed in at this venue before. It’s quite literally shoulder to shoulder all the way from the front to the benches at the back of the room. I mean this is definitely much more intimate than ArcTanGent’s main stage but I’ve definitely got about the same amount of breathing room. There’s a very marked difference in sound here too, the enclosed venue providing a much closer experience with the sound: the drums are so much stronger, the backing tracks are extremely clear but Yvette’s guitar playing is every bit as dreamy and atmospheric. The two-piece clearly have the whole audience enraptured right from the start, the dense crowd all bobbing their heads along in unison, captivated by Covet’s performance.
Amusingly Forrest, their drummer, asks if they can open a “respectful pit” and the shoulder to shoulder crowd has responded with a pretty resounding “no” given that hardly anyone can move. I adore how both elements of the band present themselves on stage also, Yvette dances and swings around as she taps and picks her melodies out while Forrest slowly nods away with a wry smile as he kicks out his grooves. Covet are quite plainly just fun, playful and sweet music to listen to, and the added element of the live performance just makes it that much better.
Also it’s another little treat to hear the new (and unreleased) tracks again so soon, and somewhat sonically different due to the venue size as you can often lose some of the nuance at large festival shows. On the whole I’m happy I’ve been able to make it to a second show so soon, it’s rare we get bands such as this coming over to the ÜK so it’s a personal mission of mine to at least try to get to see them at least twice on a tour cycle. Also we did get a “respectful pit” towards the end so Forrest got his wish finally!
As a final little addition and a thank you for Manchester being the first to sell out on this tour, we’re indulged in one last final new song beyond the usual set list – and this is a little bit of why I try to do multiple dates!
Covet, you’ve been bloody lovely, don’t stay away too long!
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