Sounds From The Street Presents:
Sounds From The Street Presents – The Facades
with special guests Rivver
The Perps and Flechettes
at The Boulevard,
Wigan
Friday 11th November 2022
It’s been a while since I was last in Wigan (nearly 6 months) and it’s so good to be back. The music scene here is buzzing, especially the indie scene, and for live music, it’s a great night out. We’re heading back to The Boulevard, which is at the heart of the music scene, easily accessible from train stations and situated in the centre of Wigan town. It’s a great venue, you get the ‘up close to the band’ feels but it’s big enough to get a decent crowd too.
It’s a home town headline tonight; we’re here to see the stunningly brilliant ‘The Facades‘ in what promises to be a sellout and spectacular night’s entertainment. With other local, Wigan-based bands ‘Rivver‘ and the ‘Flechettes‘ joining them and indie sensations, ‘The Perps‘, from Manchester, it’s one stellar lineup indeed! The Facades have been making waves; I’ve seen them a fair few times and am a big fan. Fresh from signing to ‘This Feeling‘ and releasing their first single, “Beautiful“, I’m sure big things are coming for this talented and magical band. I’m guessing this could be one of the last local headliners at this type of venue so I plan to make the most of it!
(Flechettes_Credit: Lucy Bell)
Jack Heaton: Vocal/rhythm guitar, Johnny Raper: Lead guitar, Will Watts: Bass/vocal, Nicky Kitts: Drums
Starting tonight we have local lads, The Flechettes, I’ve seen these guys before so I know we’re in for a good show. It’s fast and driven from the off, it’s all in, take no prisoners, guitars blazing stuff! It goes off, very well received in what’s now a pretty busy venue. The crowd love it. From the first song in we’ve had a mild mosh pit going – that’s a gig for you! Real crashing indie guitars, pounding beats, it’s so drum driven! The sounds are captivating. The vocal from Jack is with a northern accent, that type that sits so well within this genre. It’s light and smooth and fresh sounding. There’s an edgy feel to this whole sound, brilliantly performed and musically very tight – a real punctuating, grabbing stamp. It has a rawness, though refined at the same time. Bass lines are steady, then become immense and free, and some of the lead guitars gives a real sound reminiscent of ‘The K’s‘. Then a change in direction, it gets softer, and dreamier, guitars get shimmery and a change in vocal. Will’s s voice brings another dimension, deeper, more angst-ridden..it’s very like The Smiths! It’s bloody brilliant! As a band these lads are really likeable, have great stage presence and come across as very genuine, interaction is cheery and they proudly let it be known they’re from Wigan. A real banging, indie, anthemic feeling set. It flew by. A huge sound which has gone down a storm! Yet again, smashed it, A fast-moving, brilliantly original, explosive set from The Flechettes! Go see this band, end of!
Setlist: Make your Mistakes, Man of the Hour, Along for the Ride, Just my Luck, Carry your Matches, Breathe, Caffeine
(The Perps_Credit: Lucy Bell)
Seb: Vocal, Tom: Guitar, Arik: Bass, Alex: Drums
Next up is indie, 4-piece, Manchester based, The Perps. Right from the get-go we can see this is an energetic one! All band members are bouncing and totally in the zone and our frontman is hurling himself about the stage! Careering guitars, and storming beats, this sound and feel is 100 mph and coming at us head-on. Skippy, fast-paced, jagged guitar lines, melodic bass lines, that real Manchester ‘back in the day’ feel. The Perps bring that Mancunian swagger to this set! It’s ‘mad for it’, rave on, early 90s feels… a mash-up of Stone Roses (particularly the bass lines and drumming) with an early Arctic Monkeys sound. Hard-hitting, raw, it’s nonstop and it’s banging! These guys play and they play hard! The vocal is smooth, words are exaggerated and notes are drawn out, it’s very Oasis like and it all works amazingly. Extended instrumentals and drum solos, rip-roaring guitar riffs – it’s epic. It’s one huge sound with one massive impact – real Brit-pop meets early Manchester indie.
Our frontman has us in the palm of his hand…as he darts about on stage, throwing the mic stand about. One very cool set, it conjures up images of bucket hats (an excellent one is sported by frontman, Seb), baggy jeans and tie-dye shirts. It’s genius. I love it, Everyone seems to be loving this! Real nostalgia fuelling, retro sounds but with a bang up-to-date feel and an energy that makes you so you just have to jump around. My God, what a set! Rest assured, I WILL be catching The Perps again. This band have blown us away tonight! A musical whirlwind of a set.
Setlist: The clique, Walk like this now, Lucky ones, Culcha, Megalomaniac,
(Rivver_Credit: Lucy Bell)
Matthew Barber: Vocal/guitar, James Snow: Bass/keys: Tim Glynn: Drums, Jamie Mitchinson: Lead guitar, Adam Lloyd – Rhythm guitar
Brilliant, Wigan-based, 5 piece, indie band Rivver are next tonight. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of these guys, and the last time I was in Wigan it was to see this band! Genuinely I can’t wait to see Rivver live again, it’s 100 percent guaranteed a nonstop musical feast of a set, and on home turf, it really does up the feels! We begin and instantly it’s those familiar, glistening indie guitars, very The Smiths sounding, and an electric vibe in some tracks with the addition of keys, which works well, and an utter flurry of shimmering, glittery lines, showering cymbals. It’s a magical Real feel-good tracks, with high vibrational – melodic bass lines and then that powerhouse vocal from frontman, Babbs (Matthew Barber). The vocal is far-reaching, loud, rich and soulful with a nasal tone, goose-bump inducing!
Tonight the sound feels somewhat heavier, it’s still upbeat and soaring, but the guitars and beats in some tracks feel more rock n roll or indie rock. It’s a great addition to this already mesmeric sound. Such a fun fuelling, happy-making set, with banter and joking between songs. Rivver are such likeable, cheeky chappies! It’s always a pure pleasure to see them, tonight being no exception. I just love this band, the music is out of this world and the energy, feels and performance are on another level; the perfect combination, and grounded, great guys too! Amazing as ever – roof-raising stuff!
(The Facades_Credit: Lucy Bell)
The Facades – Headline
Alannah Webb: Vocal/guitar, Evan Armstrong: Lead guitar, Sam Bowery: Bass, Luke Ashton: Drums
So the band we’ve all been waiting for tonight, the wonderfully eclectic and creative Facades. The feels I get with the Facades sound is of fading memories, of hazy, sticky, sun-drenched days, lazy summer afternoons, but with a mournful heart – a grunge meets dreamy indie sound. Flying full throttle into tonight’s set it’s pure joy for the senses: fast-paced, punk drum beats, earworm riffs and hooks, a real New York punk of the late 70s early 80s feel. Although up-tempo for the most part, often the vocal is slower paced, sweet but full of angst, cynical stories and stern warnings. It’s all woven together immaculately. It just works so well. Alannah’s voice is sweet, daydreamy but with real depth and a sadness. It all feels ethereal and otherworldly, transcending. Quite honestly the entire band are just fascinating to watch, they fill the stage and we are glued to them. Our venue is now completely packed to the rafters and the crowd are right up to the stage edge, swaying, bouncing, and singing along; it’s been a brilliant atmosphere all night but now it’s electric. Bass drum punctuates the sound, we feel it through our entire bodies, bass lines soar, guitars are jangly and this whole sound is captivating, inspiring and completely encases us. Such a cool band, stage presence is in abundance, they just belong up there in front of us. So many genres, Inspirations and styles can be found within this sound, It’s bewitching, beguiling and bewildering, you can honestly just get lost within it, Like a magical experience, dream state, almost hypnotic, though there is an edginess to this, an attitude, that indie punk feel, and then shoe gaze American grunge feel that comes and goes. All round, inspired brilliance.10 out of 10 from me again tonight.
What a WOW set this has been! Utterly breathtaking. You can literally feel that big things are coming for this band, it’s a feeling of knowing you’ve seen something very special. I’ve seen the Facades a good many times now and never tire of them, and never will. They really have created something immense, timeless and original, awe-inspiring. They hit the ball well out of the park tonight…again! Thank you, Facades!
Setlist: I Might Stay, Like Hell, These Days, In These Woods, Don’t Ask, Better, Tell Me, Silence, Beautiful, That Letter
Words: Janet Harding
Photography: Lucy Bell
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