Tonight’s gig was at
the now well established Leeds music venue Belgrave Music Hall.
Headliner Zola Jesus was an act I was intrigued to see live having
followed her career on and off over the years since 2010’s
Stridulum II. I hadn’t actually heard any of the new album so I was
going into the gig with no preconceived idea of what to expect.
First up was WIFE and
initial comparisons lay somewhere between the beats of SBTRKT and the
more ethereal soundscapes of London Grammar. As I nodded along to
WIFE’s brand of IMD I couldn’t help but think of the one, often
faltering aspect of this type of act when performing live, the live
show itself.
While I can imagine
WIFE going down well in the chill-out room of a warehouse rave I also
can’t help but be slightly put off by watching a guy stand there
twiddling knobs and punching buttons on a drum machine for 30
minutes. This type of act needs a good visual show to keep the crowd
engaged, but this is often an element acquired by electronic artists
much further down the line in their career. Nevertheless WIFE
produces the goods sonically and is an act I would definitely keep my
eye on for the future.
As the crowd eagerly
moved forward in anticipation of the main act they certainly weren’t
disappointed. Zola Jesus burst onto the stage with their openings
track full of vigour and energy. As Nika (aka
Zola Jesus) leaped and head banged around the stage it was impossible
to not be drawn in by the power of her soaring vocals against the
crashing beats of her live drummer. This energy continued on
throughout the set with Nika giving her all through the highs and
lows of the more upbeat songs as well as the slower ballad-esque
numbers. It’s hard not to be impressed by this slight lady’s
ability command a room with such a big voice. This was no more so
apparent than with the semi Acappella Nail. It’s not just about
Zola Jesus’s ability to sing, it’s also about the fact that these
are damn good songs.
Despite being unfamiliar with the new material
on Taiga I was still drawn in to a set predominately made up of the
new material. It’s obvious to see Zola Jesus has taken a step away
from the more lo-fi ambient sounds of Conatus and Stridulum II with
songs like Dangerous Days and Hunger but this only helped give the
set life as I involuntarily bobbed along with these poppier tracks.
Leaving
the Belgrave I was left with an eager anticipation to go home and
check out the new album. For Nika and her band this was a mission
accomplished as their live show clearly pleased die-hard fans while
having the ability to entice new-comers into the world of Zola Jesus.
Words & Photos - Robin Chamberlain
