Music / Propyard
Review: Nightmares on Wax, Propyard – ‘The crescendo that had been building all night reached a spirited climax’
It was a peaceful start to the night at the industrial art space Propyard, which had the honour of hosting electro-groove maestro Nightmares On Wax for the night.
The supporting act, Harvey Grant, warmed up the place with electronic jazz sounds punctuated by a saxophone’s grooves as the venue slowly started filling up.
Located just around the corner of Marble Factory, the venue is one of a kind, throwing you into Van Gogh wall paintings and live music.
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Gig-goers can delight themselves with amazing food while sipping a fresh drink in the outdoor area, perfect for enjoying the summer in Bristol and matching impeccably the spirit of the sunny-days-hangs sound that Nightmares On Wax provides.
The two vocalists married their soft yet sharp and feline voices to the groovy beats and organic roots – photo: Alice Boeglin
Straight away I noticed an eclectic crowd. Nightmares on Wax evidently brings together older and younger generations, a testament to the fact that his music endures through the ages, and manages to attract a younger crowd eager for some prime electronic music back from the source.
Nightmares on Wax, or DJ George Evelyn, is a founding member of the project formed in Leeds in the late 1980s, and is considered one of the pioneers of the downtempo and trip-hop emergence.
His music is unique, fusing hip-hop samples, funk, jazz, soul and techno – to mention a few – and is constantly fuelled by a crafted contemporary touch.
Evelyn and his ensemble filled up the entire room. From the first song you could gradually feel the crowd merging together, as he started the set with more-down tempo rhythms, before uniting the audience in a slow trance dance.
The lights were smooth and mystic as the two vocalists married their soft yet sharp and feline voices to the groovy beats and organic roots Evelyn is famous for.
The audience was instantly receptive and involved, with hands up, contagiously spreading the 420 o’clock atmosphere among the pit.
They finished the set with the renowned hit You Wish that everyone was waiting for from the show’s beginning, and it did not disappoint.
As they exited the stage, the crowd shouted for more. Soon enough, Evelyn and his musicians returned to the stage with Da Feelin, with the crescendo that had been building up the whole night reaching a spirited climax.
Propyard was trembling as the audience enjoyed Nightmares On Wax’s final ballad.
After the show, the audience returned home with the ultimate feel-good vibes and the assurance that Nightmares On Wax will continue to follow them in their sweet dreams.
Main photo: Alice Boeglin
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