We got down to The Maze to check out The Burning Hell…
“I’m tense!” declared Jay (Brow) of host band for the night, Dream Deep. “The Burning Hell are my favourite band on the planet!”
Naturally, my expectations were high of the Canadian band were high.
Alex Hale opened with a humorous solo folky pop set, which included topics as far reaching as staying at his nan’s on a Saturday night. He impressed by successfully teaching the audience a complicated chorus to one of his own creations, then he managed to sing a second part above it. That takes some doing.
Second on the bill was the local talent of singer-songwriter, George Gadd and his mate, Ciaran, who created some gorgeous vocal harmonies on their final track, Runaway. It is plain to see why George was a finalist in this year’s Notts Factor.
Dream Deep added some electricity to what had so far been an acoustic night. Loyal fans helped stir the audience as the band opened with Pretty Lying Eyes, written, so Jay tells me, after he lost a FIFA bet. The trio played a lively alternative set, showcasing some tunes from their latest album, to be released in the new year: This Is Hell, a follow-up to their first album: This Is Love.
Prime appeared as an acoustic duo, with Lee Heir consummately delivering his Jagger-esque performance of “rock’n’roll blues with a pop feel”. Guitarist and songwriter, Chris Bradley, accompanied with finely honed, crisp, choppy chords.
For the main event, The Burning Hell did not disappoint. Frontman, Mathias Kom, has a deliciously deep voice, with occasional comforting tones of Rick Jones, fellow Canadian, presenter of iconic childhood TV favourite, Fingermouse. Ariel Sharratt, on drums, bass clarinet and vocals and Darren Browne on bass and bouzouki, added creative and beautiful sound dimensions to a number of tracks played from the band’s latest album, Revival Beach: a thoughtful, tuneful commentary on global warming and other issues. The standout track for me was When The World Ends, from a ten-year-old album, Baby, about to be re-released on vinyl.
By the end of the night, it was clear that Jay had been joined by a new army of fans for his “favourite band on the planet.”
The Burning Hell, with support from Dream Deep, Alex Hale, George Gadd, played The Maze on Sunday 9 December 2019
The Maze website
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