WAM Presents: The Raymonds 30/9/22
WAM presents The Raymonds with Special Guests at FC2, Warrington
Friday 30th September 2022
A local one for me tonight, right on my doorstep in my home town of Warrington, where it has to be said we have the most amazing musical talent. Tonight’s event highlights just some of this talent – a showcase of Warrington based, original and creative talent, all hugely differing in styles and genres. It’s a diverse lineup. It’s a musical treat in store for us tonight. In the very heart of Warrington town centre, the small, live music venue and nightclub FC2 welcomes us and I’ve been told it’s a sellout! Our headliners, ‘The Raymonds‘, are a relatively new band and over this year have put themselves firmly on the musical map. I first saw them back in May in this same venue and was suitably impressed. Appearing as special guests are local legends, ‘The AV Club‘, who never disappoint and who headlined their own event for WAM in FC2 not so long back. We also have a new band, ‘The Internet Café‘, who I’ve yet to see but have heard good things about, and ‘Olivia Booth‘ who I’ve seen acoustically but have yet to see with a full band. Tonight promises to be quite the show! You honestly can’t beat a local gig in a small club venue, up close. Some of the best gigs are of this kind!
(Olivia Booth_Warren Millar)
Olivia Booth – lead vocal, Emma Greany – guitar, Ed Whitaker White – electric guitar, Kian Mulenga – drums
So, tonight’s first set is rather special and very new. It’s the first ever performance from Olivia Booth with her brand new full band, who she later tells me have travelled all the way up from Brighton to perform! They may be first time gigging, but you’d never know. Clearly very well rehearsed, it’s a strong set from the get go. The feels are light and airy, cheery yet sad, up tempo. Olivia’s vocal is very strong, sweet and dreamy. It’s a real drum driven sound with definite indie feels, but with a folk, gypsy and slight country feel. Smooth and very clean guitar lines, built up from an acoustic sound; it’s a real free and easy vibe. Very watchable as a band – confident, and they honestly look as though they’ve been doing this together for years. The entire band have real stage presence. It’s a lively set, with lots of smiles and genuine interaction; the guys encourage clapping, which our busy venue joins in with whole heartedly. Shimmery sounds, mellow folk but with sparkling indie explosions! Having seen Olivia perform before but as a solo acoustic artist, I can honestly say her sound translates perfectly into this full band style. There’s a sadness yet warmth to her dream-like vocal, but with an edge to it. A real explosion of sounds…toe tapping, brilliantly original songs mixed with the cover she made her own. I’m very keen to see what’s next and will be following Olivia Booth closely. I really loved this set and will definitely be catching Olivia and her wonderful band again as soon as I possibly can. Well done guys!
Setlist: Complicit, Ex’s and oh’s (cover), Different, 17 going under (cover), Mind.
(The Internet Cafe_Warren Millar)
Tom Darlington – guitar/lead vocal, Josh Carmichael – lead guitar, Jimmy Nalton – bass, Tommy Williams – drums
Next up we have a newly formed band, The Internet Cafe, starting in August this year. Tonight is one of only a few live performances so far of this Warrington/Manchester based, 4 piece band. It’s a very fresh and clean sound, clear and concise; guitar driven, complex riffs, jangly, high vibrational style; indie, indie/folk but completely different feeling and sound from the previous set. I get ‘Bombay Bicycle Club’ feels and ‘2 Door Cinema Club’ straight away. It’s very well played and a super tight performance: melodic, light, skipping drumbeats; the lead vocal is very rounded and smooth, full and clear but deep, like telling tales of woe in that folk revival kind of way… the whole feel is quite immense. With strumming guitars, addictive hooks, and a quirkiness enough to get the crowd bouncing, it feels big, it’s very, very good…it’s somehow mellow, yet upbeat, I’m getting ‘Kooks’ feels although many different influences can be detected, all stunningly interwoven. There’s an interesting contrast between the upbeat, happy sounds of the instruments and the sadness of the vocal – mournfulness, kind of like how ‘The Smiths’ are – in that the music is dance worthy but the vocal distinct and sorrowful, and it all works brilliantly. The cascading guitars are quite breathtaking. It’s one full on sound and one well worth checking out. I’ve no doubt we’ll all be hearing much more from the Internet Café…another set that’s been outstanding. Smashed it. Excellent! Must hear again tunes and one on-point performance…another band to watch closely!
Setlist: She won’t be there, waiting for your love to call, Hand me down, Wait for a minute, Joanna, Peace of mind, Your love is a symphony, Behind those eyes.
(The AV Club_Warren Millar)
Joe Banks – vocal/guitar, Oli Thomas – drums, Dan Turton – bass, Freya Rose Hann – vocal/guitar/keys
I love The AV Club! Everyone loves The AV Club, the following they have says that much. It’s now really busy in our venue and the cheers that go off once The AV Club arrive on stage are pretty damn lively! With an epic backing track, and an extended intro which entirely sets the scene, we then get an avalanche of electro and surging guitar lines…and straight into one feel good set. The energy is blistering, it’s radiating from them. You know with this band they just always bring it in spades, and not just sound and performance, they bring the whole package…it’s an entire feel. And trust me tonight’s set is headed that way! The musicianship is top notch and the production is very slick. Interaction is great – friendly, enthusiastic banter from our frontman, Joe, really getting the crowd going, encouraging a mosh pit (which is pulled off in epic style), he s doing an excellent job in raising excitement levels. Another completely different genre and sound, we now have real electro, post punk/new wave and a massive 80s influence. Sparkling guitars, mesmerizing keys, shining bass lines, flippy, light but solid beats and those backing tracks make for such an immersive and quite a sublime sound. It’s like stepping into the soundtrack of some 80s epic like ‘The Goonies’ or similar. and it’s going down super well. Such high vibrational, smile creating, dance making stuff…it’s like the recipe for happiness!…and with songs such as ‘VHS (Very Happy Song)’ and ‘Better Days are coming,’ the themes are equally optimistic. Vocals are a combination of Joe mainly leading…a light, breezy, very even and steady vocal which sits perfectly within this genre…then Freya, mostly backing, but does take the lead in certain tracks. Her vocal adds a lift, warmth, and a lilting sweetness. very multi dimensional; the combinations work brilliantly. It’s been a fast paced set, seemingly flying by – energy filled, eclectic nostalgia fuelled with retro feels and superb production. Top marks again. Brilliant concept, with such attention to detail and a sound that’s pure joy making, it’s infectious. Very Happy Song (s) = very happy sounds = very happy crowd! Seriously, everybody needs the AV club in their life!
Setlist: No setlist is available.
(The Raymonds_Warren Millar)
Fin Richards – lead vocal/guitar, Max Morrow – guitar, Evan O’Toole – bass, James Lynchehaun – drums
So in FC2 now it’s packed, heat levels have risen and there’s a real buzz, a mounting excitement…then, in what can only be described as an epic burst of energy, crashing guitars and rapid fire drumming, our headline act, The Raymonds, explode into their set before us and the crowd goes wild. We have a full on, raging, swirling mosh pit. Up on stage the guys certainly look the part, all floppy hair and flared pants – a real late 60s, early 70s feel to the performance – very retro and the energy of an early 90s ‘Kula Shaker’, too. The sound is very polished, very well crafted and very well executed. Great performance with an abundance of that aforementioned energy. It’s gone mad in here, everyone is pogoing, arms in the air, it’s like being in the pit at some huge gig at a large venue! The atmosphere and collective energy is electric. All 4 band members are positively oozing charisma and are bouncing, none of them still for a second. It’s another fast paced, high octane set, up-tempo and super uplifting. Another genre change – a slight funk feel to this sound – firmly indie based, very smooth, very cool and very edgy. There’s a feeling of mania, like the type ‘The Monkees’ used to bring…of screaming crowds and hysteria type energies. Jagged, yet melodic guitar lines, juddering, thumping yet smooth bass lines, a real calypso type beat. It feels somehow tropical, but with a basement, live music club feel, underground, quirky but with a crispness. There’s real direction…think ‘Vampire Weekend’ meets ‘The Snuts’. There’s great interaction, Finn really gets the crowd’s energy ramped right up. All three guitarists are bounding about the entire stage, dancing, kicking, leaping, all three jumping in time to the music in choreographed moments. It works very well! James’s drumming is powerful; he’s pounding at that kit.
The passion, enthusiasm and fire coming from that stage is quite something. Ripples of musical energy exude from them. Very crisp sounds, catchy hooks, spidery riffs, clever beats and glistening, glittering guitars. Finn’s vocal is controlled, clear and strong and has that grate to it, that gravel that adds identity and character. It’s very special to see how much these young lads as a band have come together and really mastered a style and their own brand of performance. From seeing them in May at their first ever gig together (and that was bloody good), catching them in July at EBGB’s in Liverpool, and then this tonight, it’s really evolved into something quite spectacular. There is something special about The Raymonds, you can literally feel it. You heard it here first, but I genuinely think this band is one to watch! Do go see them live, I promise they bring the party! The first hometown sell out headline gig merely months after starting out, I’d say that says enough. Great sound, amazing performance, very cool, and edgy and blew the roof off FC2 here tonight. People, I give you ‘The Raymonds’…go see for yourselves!
Setlist: Follow My Nose, Fish tank, Modern Nightmares, What I Needed, Him, Swings and Waterslides – ‘Viola Beach’ cover, Through My Veins, Heartbreak, Nights With You, Follow Your Nose – Encore.
Writer: Janet Harding
Photography: Warren Millar
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