The hallowed Rough Trade stage hosted an eclectic mix of local music as Bored Marsh celebrated the launch of their debut EP, IDIOT, with support from Hhymn and TRANKS...
Formed in lockdown, the Nottingham alt-rock four-piece has quickly made a name for themselves over the past couple of years, with appearances at Hockley Hustle, Beat the Streets, and The Waterfront Festival (you can read more in our recent interview with the band).
The backdrop to the Friday night gig was travel disruption caused by tram cancellations and revellers heading to Forest Recreation Ground for the opening night of Goose Fair. Meanwhile at Rough Trade, Nottingham-based bands and DJs were gearing up for another great night of live music. As well as the three bands, Dom Gourlay and Jimi Arundell provided the tunes between sets and into the night.
First up, an intimate session with Hhymn, where at one point, the drummer, Matt James, ditched
his sticks, opting for a pair of maracas, and lead singer Ed Bannard produced a Melodica to end
their thoughtfully constructed, well-received performance.
Next up was ambient techno-trio TRANKS; they were conceived in North West London but have hit their stride in the East Midlands. The performance was brilliant, full of rumbling basslines, synths, and almost hypnotic spacemen-inspired visuals.
Then the headliners took the stage: Joe Need (lead vocals), Brad Westby (guitar and backing vocals), Jade Bowman (bass guitar), and Paul Mason-Smith (drums) rattled off tracks from their debut album, starting with the lead single, Alright, OK! The band's name is not just a play on the (former) Broadmarsh shopping centre but also a comment on the protracted nature of the much-promised redevelopment of the area, with the initial plan announced back in 2002.
For context, Tony Blair was in his fifth year as Prime Minister, the likes of Blazin' Squad and Las Ketchup were in the charts, and Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson's dad, Michael, was playing for Forest. Bored Marsh has taken inspiration from bands such as Radiohead and Queens of the Stone Age, as well as new wave and grunge, and it all melts together beautifully in the title track, Idiot.
Even Jimi Arundell's Editors T-shirt seems fitting, as you can hear bits of the West Midlands indie band in songs like Come Around and Honest Days Work. But Bored Marsh has its own identity and ended where it began, with their debut single, The Grind.
The soaring vocals, reverb guitars, and powerful drumming were consistent features, and the boys earned an enthusiastic response from the Rough Trade crowd. This was a fitting end to the band's debut EP launch show.
Bored Marsh performed at Rough Trade on 27th September 2024.
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