LIVE REVIEW: Green Lung @ The Exchange, Bristol

Nature is healing – for the first time in two years, the UK has a gig season. With the vast majority of festivals over, bands are beginning to head out on the road, whether to honour rescheduled dates or newly-announced tours. For London’s GREEN LUNG, it’s most certainly the former – like a number of other outfits, this run of dates has taken so long to come around, they’re on the verge of releasing a new album; it also explains why their final show, at The Exchange in Bristol, is a sold out affair.

Before they take to the stage though, NEUROMATIC are up to deliver forty-five minutes of psychedelia-inspired rock that opens with a curious marriage of space rock keyboards reminiscent of Rick Wakeman or the late, great Jon Lord and a punk underpinning. There’s much to enjoy here – although down to stage space more than choice, having the drums front and centre make for an interesting dynamic and, given how some bands were presented on television during the 1960s, provides a convenient throwback when you factor in the floaty progressive rock that the band produce through songs like 55 and the ‘new-yet-written-in-1979’ track Drug Squad. There is room for improvement, however: the time between songs could be shortened to improve fluidity and there are moments, like in the sprawling Lying In Bed With Cats, where it gets a little self-indulgent, but outside of these it’s a very good showing from the local act; there’s definite potential here.

Rating: 7/10

Like many venues, The Exchange has been subject to upgrades during the pandemic, including new lighting and sound systems; it’s been a shrewd investment. Where once levels could be muddy, tonight they are perfectly balanced and it means GREEN LUNG are absolutely scintillating. Every riff, every vocal line, every drum hit is delivered with the maximum of impact and the packed Bristol crowd, some of whom have been waiting over eighteen months for this, return with interest; the singalong during Call Of The Coven is nothing short of biblical.

Vocalist Tom Templar is at the top of his game, commanding the room with utter ease, but the MVP of tonight is guitarist Scott Black; outstanding throughout, he absolutely shines when called upon for his solos, most notably during May Queen and a thunderous Leaders Of The Blind. Elsewhere, Reaper’s Scythe is a stoner rock song everyone can dance to, Living Fossil is a perfect blend of DOWN and THE SWORD and closing song Let The Devil In has everyone singing the lead hook at a volume that seems improbable for a capacity less than 300. It’s a shame that the set is twenty minutes shorter than advertised, but that’s the only down point; GREEN LUNG are worth anyone’s time and they’ve proved it again.

Rating: 9/10

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