Not all opening acts complement their headliner, but Ry-Guy proved to be the perfect match. Blending gently spoken verses with a mesmerizing display of vocal range, their frontman commanded the stage from the moment he stepped on it. Backed by a tight setup of drums, guitars, samples, and keys, the band delivered a wildly streamlined musical chaos that perfectly bridged the worlds of alt-rock and shoegaze and brilliantly opened the evening for Deadletter!
Next up was the reason we travelled over and one of our all-time favourite live acts; Deadletter. They immediately hit the room with a chaotic, cowbell-and-brass-tinged wall of sound. Few bands can match Deadletter’s genre-blending brilliance, audience interaction, and pure suave energy. They are a well-oiled machine that captivates from the get-go. The well oiled machine captivates from the get-go, which was proved to me by the fact that they instantly swayed the two friends I had brought along to see the show, and who’d never heard of the band before.
Frontman Zac Lawrence’s wild dancing is always a highlight; he completely lets the music move him, inducing the crowd to do the exact same. It made for a fantastic atmosphere inside The Grove; a brilliant live venue I’ve found myself visiting frequently over the past few weeks, its programmers clearly know who to put on! The Grove has been creating a great buzz around the North East, successfully drawing bigger touring bands to Newcastle thanks to a slightly larger capacity than many other local spots. Deadletter knew exactly how to wrap that sizeable crowd around their little finger. Their brilliant yet chaotic alternative rock always knows how to make us move, and this night was no exception. I already can’t wait to see them live again!
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