Determined Journalist | Bloodworm
The Bodega, Nottingham
sixteenth January 2025
The Bodega is celebrating 25 years of being a haven for among the finest UK bands. The poster exterior is filled with photos of bands who’ve performed right here on their approach to large arenas and pageant headlines. Tonight, a sizeable queue is ready to see Determined Journalist who’re touring their New Hero album materials throughout the UK.
The Bodega venue is the upstairs flooring of a well-liked bar. A final-minute swap of assist for tonight sees Nottingham’s personal Bloodworm taking part in their hometown. The post-punk/gothic rock three-piece is contemporary from acting at Rockaway Seashore. The queue didn’t appear to subside as one left and others joined. It seems to be like it will likely be busy, and busy early.
The primary area in entrance of the small stage is filling up quickly as Bloodworm arrives on stage. The Sisters Of Mercy t-shirt worn by the lead singer provoked reminiscences of the final time I used to be on this area, seeing Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams play certainly one of their secret gigs because the Blood Brothers (aka The Mission). Nottingham has at all times been a stronghold for 80s different sounds.
Bloodworm’s influences are evident all through the set. Driving bass and drums energy the songs with lead guitar offering the headlines. The set opens with Depths and Again of a Hand. The band get a heat reception all through and a refrain of approval as they bring about the set to a detailed with Cemetery Dance.
The venue fills as much as capability because the changeover is happening. The projected backdrop quickly replaces The Bodega emblem with the phrases Determined Journalist. There’s a palpable air of pleasure for the band that bubbles up properly as they take the stage.
Determined Journalist are a London 4-piece of Jo Bevan (vocals), Rob Hardy (guitars), Simon Drowner (bass), and Caz Helbert (drums). The present tour is showcasing 2024’s No Hero album. Latest dates have kicked off with the opening observe Adah, however tonight it’s changed with Comfort Prize. The brilliant guitar intro from Hardy provides approach to Bevan’s vocals. She is the focus of the band, however that interaction between guitar and vocal is a function all through. Drowner strikes the songs together with bass-lines that might take a look at dwelling with among the best post-punk purveyors with Helbert’s drums setting the tempo all through.
Eight new tracks from the brand new album make an look. No Hero is up there with their strongest work so there may be not one of the lack of curiosity that typically accompanies new tracks. Runs of those songs are divided neatly with earlier album highlights.
Hole and Every little thing You Needed are stand-out tracks showcasing the facility and vary in Bevan’s vocals. She seamlessly drifts by vocal types referencing most of the nice feminine singers of the post-punk period. In between songs, she is a girl of few phrases, “When you like delay and disappointment, there’s going to be extra of that” is met with laughter from the group.
The set passes all too rapidly and he or she publicizes that Character Girlfriend will likely be their final music. Hardy provides the sport away with a well-timed Not Actually. This music is one other stand-out and the group are baying for his or her return properly earlier than Helbert manages to seek out her manner out of the maze of kit on the small stage.
As we await the bands return, lots of these current are speaking of the opposite exhibits they are going to be attending on this tour. It isn’t tough to see why they encourage such loyalty. The present blends the vitality of a brand new band with the again catalogue and stage-craft of 1 that has handed the last decade mark. They return and launch right into a blistering model of Management. That is adopted by Satellite tv for pc, which actually is the final music. A photograph is snapped with the group within the background and they’re on to the following date on this run of exhibits
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Bloodworm are on Bandcamp, Fb and Instagram
Determined Journalist are on their web site, Fb, Instagram and X (Twitter)
Phrases and photos by Neil Chapman (Unholy Racket). You’ll be able to go to his creator profile for Louder Than Conflict. He’s normally discovered on Fb and Instagram
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