LIVE REVIEW: Holding Absence @ The Underworld, London
HOLDING ABSENCE lay waste to The Underworld in London, marking in a pivotal moment in their career that they won’t be playing venues of this size for much longer.
It’s a nightmare Friday night rush hour trying to make it across London for an early curfew show, and sadly THE NIGHTMARES take up the slot that means those working right up until the end of the day miss their set.
Purveyor of acoustic sad songs Luke Rainsford tries to keep the warming up of a sold-out crowd in full swing. Flanked by keys, drums, bass and another acoustic guitar, Rainsford and co go full ham on their acoustics, treating their set as if it was steeped in pedal-to-the-metal distortion. It’s not, and sadly Rainsford’s vocal harmonies lose their merit as he sways in and out of key throughout. But no one seems to notice, as the crowd sing a long and nod their heads in glee, remarkably enthralled by lyrics that cut right to the root of angst told from perspectives of lost relationships and well…sad stuff. Unfazed and clearly overwhelmed by his experience on tour (tonight being the climax of two weeks on the road), Luke thanks the bands and crowd over and again, and the throng already pressing up against the stage are lapping it up.
Rating: 6/10
Having just released their debut self-titled album at the beginning of March, tonight marks the end of HOLDING ABSENCE’s first headline tour — brimming with a set woven with new material that the sold out crowd are chomping at the bit to hear in a live setting. As the first notes of Perish ring out from the PA, bodies begin to make their way over heads and onto the stage for a whole relentless hour, giving The Underworld‘s security team a run for their money.
While the onslaught of flailing arms and feet is delightful to watch, its HOLDING ABSENCE that take centre stage tonight. The welsh five-piece rip through choice cuts Your Love (Has Ruined Everything) and Monochrome without a moments pause, guided with a thunderous crashing from Ashley Green who is barely visible at the back of the stage if not for his sticks making an appearance above the silhouettes of bobbing heads.
Guitarists Scott Carey and Chris Smitheram prove their chops in providing dizzying melodies and riffs that threaten to bring down the walls of the venue: with Carey grinding away so avidly it’s a wonder he manages to keep his glasses on for the duration. But it’s vocalist Lucas Woodland who ensures that all eyes are transfixed forward, baring his all with a vocal sound that leaves jaws firmly hitting the floor. He reached notes in Saint Cecilia and Wilt that ooze with emotion that at times it’s hard not to get choked up as the crowd do their best to keep up with him — their arms reaching out to get just the slightest touch of his flesh.
Marigold proves to be the most intimate moment of the evening, with Woodland left alone on this keyboard to croon the swelling crowd, encouraging everyone to get on shoulders with phone torches and lighters out. “We really do believe that music should do the talking” he says, and of course The Underworld happily obliges by doing their best at making their voices heard to the world outside. It’s a glorious moment that leaves some eyes in the house wet, before the rest of the Welsh rabble rejoin him to slay the remainder of their time in London with closers Like A Shadow and Penance.
If tonight’s performance is anything to go by, HOLDING ABSENCE won’t be headlining 500 cap venues for much longer. With fans screaming out in adoration long after the house lights are up, the band have something that’s inherently special that seems far bigger than five guys from Cardiff, and will see them laying waste to academies up and down the country in no time at all.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in London from Jordan Darby Photography here:
