LIVE REVIEW: downcast @ Crofters Rights, Bristol

In the small back room of a long-standing womb for new musicians to cut their teeth in and occasionally kick a few out, an evening of underground talent is about to kick off to a small but eager crowd who’ve come out to support Bristol natives; DOWNCAST, for their sold-out home town album launch show.

Starting things off was support from of HAUNTED BY WOLVES, another Bristol-based trio with their dramatic emo rock performance with inflections of old school KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Those who occupy the room to watch the first act, rest timidly against walls near the back sipping pints. This doesn’t stop frontman Luke from pulling all the air punches and hair banging. This, however transpires as slightly cringeworthy to an onlooker, and it completely distracts from their very emotive vocals and actually quite good music!

Rating: 5/10

DALI are the next up to woo a slightly larger audience. Despite a couple of technical hitches, the band masterfully save themselves with a smile and a ‘shit happens’ attitude and carry on with their catchy indie punk rock set. The room moves closer to the stage and a relationship is forming much to the joy of guitarist Ellis, who between backup vocals is beaming ear to ear. There’s a fine-tuned raw feel to their sound, as if a high school garage band suddenly got hold of Abbey Road Studios. They are catchy, likeable and full of versatility as musicians.

Rating: 8/10

Last of the support acts was Bridgend’s PARADISE NOW. A band who sure know their worth yet walk onto stage as if they haven’t come up to blow everyone away with their gold rush of hooks and crescendos! This is mostly certainly a band with big things in store for them, having already landed a record label partnership the other side of the Atlantic, and it’s not hard to see why the Americans love them, they have that perfect combo of pop and rock with Sam’s unique vocal tone over some well-crafted riffs and drum beats.

Rating: 9/10

Fans, excited friends and a proud mum have now fully packed out this matchbox of a room, wall to wall – floor to ceiling, to spend an hour with the four Bristol lads who make up DOWNCAST (plus an extra guitarist). Opening with their set with the band’s first single britannia mills from recently released album i saw hell when I was with you, DOWNCAST are met with a lot of beaming smiles and singing along which sets the mood for the rest of their performance.

With previous shows over the past year supporting other underground bands as well as ska punk veterans; SPUNGE, DOWNCAST have really began to hone their stage presence and have built up quite a following on the scene. The confidence is running at high levels throughout the veins of the band, they know they’ve struck gold with their talented lyric writing and instrumental composition, they’ve got all the makings to break through to bigger stages and audiences.

Frontman Liam knows how to read the room and doesn’t overdo or downplay their interaction with the crowd. You can see the depth of passion he has for his music as he pours every ounce of himself into belting out 11 of their tracks tonight. Closing their set with Catharsis which had a big surge of fan engagement and jumping on stage to sing into the mic. Everyone is bouncing up and down as fists hit the ceiling to a triumphant finish.

This review wouldn’t be complete without applauding 6ft2 tall bassist Jeff’s ability to pogo jump multiple times without cracking his skull on the very low ceiling! If you get the chance to catch DOWNCAST at your local hole in the wall, do not miss out, it won’t be long until they are playing bigger venues.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Bristol from Camille Watkins Photography here: