- Thu, 2011-02-10 13:08
Newrising live @ The Halfmoon, Putney, London 30/01/2011
Review by: Aurelia Morrison
There's a certain, inimitable charm about the Halfmoon in Putney; for a venue so steeped in musical history, it's intimate enough to be your living room – if your living room were so lucky as to be adorned with The Who gig posters and Jimi Hendrix memorabilia. Halfmoon favourites Newrising have returned tonight as part of the Good Voodoo all day event, showcasing the best undergound live acts of 2010, and the atmosphere is bubbling with happy punters enjoying quality music.
It's Newrising's first London gig of 2011, and from the moment the band step on stage you can tell they're raring to go. “We like to put the groove back into acoustic music” says frontman Jay Carter, as they immediately break into Can't Let You Go, a Latin influenced tune with tequila-smooth riffs and an equally addictive melody. Newrising are renowned for their tight three part harmonies, and they certainly don't disappoint when at the break down they give a note-perfect a capella rendition of the chorus. By the time percussionist Adam Knight effortlessly drops the beat back in, the crowd are sold on their rootsy indie-pop.
What follows is a set that demonstrates the passion and talent of a band that draws from a huge spectrum of musical influence. Awake From Slumber is the second song of the night, woven with an infectious reggae beat that paves the way for the cool groove of the bass and guitar. Newrising show a committed energy to every song, no matter what the vibe or speed; from start to finish, every beat, note and strum are hit as if it’s the last the band will ever play. Nobody's Bitch, a blues tune, receives particularly raucous applause – the soulful vocals are notably more raw but without a loss of control, with every note reached and sustained with a warm, powerful tone. People is another hit with the crowd; Tom Weymouth demonstrates some seriously funky bass-playing, hitting intricate notes whilst Adam keeps a fevered yet solid beat going, and Jay's red-wine vocals flow over melodic harmonies.
It's clear that Newrising are not only talented, but deeply passionate about the music they play. As a result they fill the room with a crackling energy, as infectious as their hook-laden songs, that remains well after they’ve left the stage; you can’t help but be caught up in the buzz.
