Review: Peach, Rough Trade – ‘An energetic anger fuelled band’

As the crowd gathered outside Rough Trade on a bleak rainy Halloweens evening, I met a friend and then one more who was happy to take a free ticket off my friend in exchange for a lifetime of free cake.

First to hit the stage tonight are Cardiff based SHLUG who describe themselves as a three-piece meat grinder lugging noise between teeth and gears.

Singer Ellis is striking straight wearing little else other than some stripey blue boxer shorts and a can of red stripe. He screams into your face, fires intense imaginary arrows into the crowd and goads the crowd as if wanting the same from us.

The Scent Of Roy Keane is two minutes 15 seconds of punk rock perfection. “This ones for Rob Brydon, Nessa and Barry Island!”, he shouts before launching into a full-on raucous performance of single Baby Teeth.

SHLUG make you laugh, make you shout and when you least expect it “he’s got a drill!” as it’s then shoved into a mic a played like a tiny guitar. They are raw, angry and loud all with a sense of humour to take the edge off.

Next up are Bristol based band Sang Froid. Singer and usual keys player Ais has an injured hand tonight so lets a laptop do the work instead.

Within seconds her voice grabs you and has the now capacity crowd all in and up for it. With drummer Toby driving the band on and us dance during The Still.

Peach singer Ellie Godwin was as engrossed as all of us as she swayed and danced right at the front with some hand holding appreciation between the two.

Lachrymose is haunting sprawling live epic which seems to some this band up with singer noticeably expelling all the emotion in her soul, what a performance.

There was definitely a buzz for this one and it felt like the anticipation had heightened each time I went to the bar between shows.

Tonight, Peach are here to celebrate the release of self-titled album Peach. If I’m honest I was tired before this show but now I was very excited, full of live music and soaking up the buzz around the venue.

Peach take to the stage to a frenzy of photography and a packed crowd I made sure to get as close as possible for this one.

They immediately pack a punch and don’t waste much time getting us all hooked with show starter Dread, which is so high energy, loud and electric mix of pixies at there heaviest.

They are as energetic anger fuelled band. I was so close to singer Ellie, she performers as if possessed, as if words have been trapped are escaping from her.

I love Losing Sleep’s infectious driving riff which has one fan on her knees as if praying to a great being. People all around me are now fully immersed doing that slow head bang thing throughout.

Long Mover has you gripped as Ellie’s voice just gets better and better and the quiet intro gives way to wall of fuzzing passion which blows me away and once again. I have a new favourite band.

I can see why this show is sold out, their performance is so intense I almost felt like I was on stage with them, I mean I was pretty close. Ellie sings like she’s got ten diaphragms, I’ve never seen a performance like it she looks like she’s going to pass out several times.

She’s in her element and possibly has moved to a different dimension.  Maybe not a comparison they have had before kept thinking but I kept of a comparison with Skin from Skunk Anansie for intensity, beauty and anguish in her voice.

I’m scared sees Ellie leap into the crowd as the crowd formed a circle around her. Settle Down sees the band sitting down on stage maybe knowing they have a six-minute banger up their sleaves and need a rest! The band appear to be pushing themselves to the limit in this song, so are the crowd.

What Peach give to us we give back.  Quicky as they left the stage I asked Ellie “was that as intense for you as it was for me?” she smiled and said “yes!”

I had to then have a debrief with my friend and randomly Bristol legend Emily Breeze to take in what we had just seen! Must see again.

Main photo: Matt Barnes

Read next:

• Review: Squid, SWX – ‘They are relentless’
• Review: Baxter Dury, SWX – ‘Full of joy’
• Review: The New Cut, Crofters Rights – ‘My new favourite Bristol band’

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