Gig Review: Bleach Lab at The Bodega

Sometimes a band seems truly able to fill a venue: totally bringing their personality into the room, and soaking the performance space with a definable atmosphere. That was my impression with Bleach Lab at The Bodega, and - before that - for the support band, She’s In Parties.

This was a really well-suited pairing of acts. She’s In Parties are a four-piece from Essex who bring eighties-infused vibes which veer toward the shoegaze-end of dream-pop. They’re a strong, ascending band in themselves and so this is not one of those unfortunate situations when a headlining band programmes a much weaker or quieter act out of fear of being overshadowed. Bleach Lab deserve praise for their confidence and generosity here.

She’s In Parties make very good use of their half-hour slot, working through their repertoire of music which draws on a wide range of influences. A highlight for me comes near the start of the set with Summer Haze - a shimmery number built around a really infectious synth loop. It’s both hazy and upbeat; light-hearted on the surface with a more serious underlying message (drug-induced paranoia and existential angst). Their live rendition of Velveteen is excellent too. Here, vocalist Katie shows off a well-honed vocal technique, moving from soaring, drawn-out notes to sharper ones without missing a beat. Both those songs are from their debut EP which was released last month.

A much older song, Angelic, hits hard, too. Apparently one the band got bored with but then brought back into their sets, it’s a wavy, dreamy tune in six/eight time (with a clever transition to four/four at the end) which throws out echoes of both Wolf Alice and Blondie. 

Compared with the smooth production on their studio recordings, the band’s live sound is pleasingly raw, particularly from the bass section, and with fuzzy guitars over the shoegazey swirl. Katie’s comments between songs were friendly but subtle, infused with a cheerful, understated joy that perhaps arises out of the adrenaline-punctuated boredom and sleep deprivation of touring.

It’s a solid performance, and the perfect forerunner to Bleach Lab who arrive on The Bodega stage somehow combining effortless cool with inclusive happiness.

Jenna Kyle has a commanding demeanour, confident and pleasant, but clearly absolutely focused on presenting her best self. As she sings, she often shuts her eyes, losing herself in the music and the experience; and raises her hands with balletic elegance. As songs fade to a close, she regards us knowingly and seems to relish the sound of the musicians around here, too. To one side, bassist Josh Longman gives off strong “I’ve got your back” vibes, while on the other side guitarist Louis (still very new to the current lineup) works his magic, punching out reverb-drenched chords and working them into new shapes as the songs develop. Meanwhile, drummer Kieran Weston grins his way through every number, always staying on point, and anchoring the overall sound by making sure all the right blank spaces are filled. The effect is a much bigger and more melded sound than you might expect from only four people. 

This is the midpoint of a tour to promote Bleach Lab’s debut album, Lost In A Rush Of Emptiness, and their set has clearly been well-refined by this stage. It feels nicely balanced, featuring some natural lulls and pauses in the overall arc. 

They open with Indigo, Jenna quickly getting into the zone, before moving to album-opener All Night and then to an older song, Real Thing. This one has a lovely lilt to it, and a feeling of the band settling in to a groove as they push into the short, pacey chorus. “I really want to see you again, I want to be more than friends,” Jenna sings with enhanced focus.

Then, it’s a return to the album for Never Coming Back: wonderfully smooth without straying into washed-out territory (sometimes a problem with this genre when played live). The band are spot-on and crisp through the layers of sound.

In the next two songs - Safe Place and Smile For Me - there’s a firm and honest message of solidarity against misogyny. Jenna describes the second of those as “a song for anyone that’s ever been harassed or made to feel unsafe," and this one is a highlight musically, too, particularly when Louis breaks into a muted, chugging guitar riff which spurs aggressive, tom-tom-heavy drumming from Kieran.

This seems to take the band to a higher level of imaginative energy which continues for the rest of the set. Counting Empties is introduced with a militaristic snare-drum riff, before entering into a psychedelic, soaring realm; Nothing Left To Lose shows off more guitar technique and a tricky ending which could only be pulled off by a band which is very well rehearsed and extremely tight; and Pale Shade of Blue is lilting, laid back and, most importantly, given the space to run its course.

Jenna introduces If You Only Feel It Once as “a song about feeling like you’re running out of time and life, and trying to make the most of it," which is a great description of the rich, reflective depths of this one. The group work together to explore those depths meaning this song feels intimate and immersive.

The two closing numbers are Old Ways, where Kieran’s backing vocals seem to float into the edges of perception during the chorus, and Everything At Once. Louis makes this one his own, repeating and enhancing the harmonic riffs between verses over and over in a drawn-out ending. 

Of course, it’s sad to hear that song - and the set - ending. After what was a skilful, impactful and engaging performance, it’s also a bit of a shame there’s no encore as the packed house is certainly ready for one. But there are no complaints: tonight the band have clearly won plenty of new fans, and pleased their old ones, too.

Bleach Lab performed at The Bodega on 7 November 2023

@bleach.lab