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Hanger 18, Swansea
May 2024
Review and photos Rob Wilkins
Friday review HERE
Saturday review HERE
Still going strong and after a nice, chilled Sunday lunch we head back to Hanger 18 for day three of this superb little festival.
Opening today are another of the Battle of the Bands winners, White Leather. Whilst not quite setting the stage alight in the same manner as their co-winners yesterday, they still impressed with a set that sounded familiar as the influences were very forward in their set. Stage presence was excellent and their musicianship was beyond critique. All that was missing was bringing a more unique sound to their output and I am sure that will soon develop.
Following them were Rizen with possibly the most imposing frontman of the weekend in Adrian Mills! Listening to them beforehand there was a very familiar tone to his vocals and live that echo of the master Mr Byford was still clear. Energy in the room rose nicely throughout their set. No fancy tricks or complexities, just really strong rock played and delivered well. A great start to the day and a band I would definitely make time for again.
The theme of playing simple rock well continued with Stone Angels from Brighton. The theory isn’t hard. Lay down a good rhythm, add on a riff that melts your ears and vocals that are raw and powerful, and keep it going for 30-odd minutes and these lads from the southeast do it incredibly well. “Supercharged” stood out in their set and I have drifted back to listen to some of their material a few times since.
A familiar trio for me next with Cornwall’s 50 Year Storm taking the stage. Very different from most other bands playing with Damon Morey taking frontman duties along with keyboards, Emma Limn at the back with some kick-ass drumming, and husband Andy Limn ripping out some of the best and most technical riffs of the weekend. For me, they are a band that needs to be seen in the context of their home. It is music that should soar out over a stormy beach. It loses a little of that in a small club but is most enjoyable nonetheless.
On the subject of “Now for something completely different” they are superceded by the wonderfully named Lesbian Bed Death. I have never come across the band before and we as gobsmacked to find out that they have been in existence for decades! Frontwoman JJ is the star of the show. An energetic livewire that slips from vocals to Irish dancing and back effortlessly and covers the stage whilst her band members are far more static. It’s a fun set. It doesn’t set the stage alight but I find myself enjoying a beer as I watch and my head nods along frequently.
Another new band to me follows on with Skinny Knowledge and they immediately take the mantle of favourite band so far. It is energetic, fun, fast-paced rock and roll that is delivered with full commitment and very quickly they have the crowd on their side. Check out songs that will make you smile such as “Class A Dummy” and “Too Scared to Live” to get a feel for their sound and I definitely suggest you catch them live if you can.
I will be honest and say I was a bit lost with the following band The Now. Bringing a boy band vibe to the day with young good looks and an army of similar supporters I was intrigued to see what felt like it should be what this music genre needs. Too many bands appeal to middle-aged rocker fans and that is the route to a slow death. For me though, I just got nothing from their performance whatsoever. There was no passion or enjoyment visible and it all felt a bit posy. I was trying to like what they brought to the table, and songs such as “Devil Inside Me” and “Live & Die” came close, but in the end, I was left reflecting on whether they had a bad day or I just encountered them at the wrong point in a long day.
Penultimate act to take the stage are a band that I have watched improve immeasurably over the last few years since first seeing them at a small festival in Cornwall at the end of Covid. Essex trio White Raven Down bring a set of technical complexity and no small amount of power. Watching Stu Bailey develop as a frontman has been the key to their success. His quality as a guitarist shines through but his energy and confidence to get in the crowd’s faces add to the energy of the performance. The set is shortened due to a delay in setting up, but songs such as “Salvation” and “Take Me” are absolute class. Not many bands improve gig on gig at this pace and White Raven Down could have something really big if they keep this up.
Finally to the headliners South of Salem. The stage is dressed appropriately, there are dancers, there is smoke, there is noise and then, there is an explosion of energy that shows why the South Coast crew are making such big waves in the genre currently.
The combination of elements is what makes for their success. Start with a frontman with confidence and charisma, add bandmates that don’t stop running, leaping, posing, and ripping out HUGE riffs, and add in material that stripped of all the theatre is just insanely catchy and a throwback to an era of classic rock and deliver it all at a breathtaking pace. You can tell that a LOT of work has gone into honing their act. Everyone acts as if they are naturally taking opportunities to leap from risers and co-ordinate poses but in reality that ease comes from constant honing.
Of all the bands here, South of Salem are the ones that stand on the verge of joining the big guys. They are playing stadium sets in small venues and medium festivals and as they rise up the bill, more and more people will follow their journey.
A great way to end a superb weekend. Can’t wait till next year!
