Words and photography: James Woollen
I arrived at the venue around 7pm to see Chemtrails perform at the Samuel Worth Chapel. It was, fittingly, a dark October evening and the venue stood silhouetted against the sky, its windows shining bright and the steps bathed in soft yellow light, creating a warm welcome on what was a chilly evening.
So, who are Chemtrails? The band consists Mia Lust (guitar, vocals, keys); Laura Orlova (guitar, vocals, keys); Ian Kane (bass) and Liam Steers (drums). They are described as a post-garage-punk and psychedelic power pop band, which started out as a DIY bedroom recording project and formed into a full band in 2016.
In terms of musical influences, think Pixies, Blondie, Fat White Family, plus some 1960s psych and garage punk. They have a new album coming out, ‘The Joy of Sects’, which promises to be their boldest yet. With their danceable, rhythm-driven style and the trademark fuzzy guitars overseen by working producer Margo Broom (Fat White Family and Goat Girl), you can expect a whole new level of intensity.
The bar was busy, the venue quickly warming up as the crowds gathered. The band came onstage around 9.30pm and launched into a blistering set of eight songs, comprising of old and new material. They made good use of the small performance space, with both Mia Lust and Laura Orlova dancing and swinging their guitars around while doing an outstanding job of sharing vocals and fronting the band.
Songs that stood out on the night were ‘Blurred Visions’ and ‘Aeons’. The former, which opened the show, sounded like a modern-day take of 60s psychedelic garage, with nice guitar distortion and a keyboard sounding like an old Hammond adding a nice vibe. Vocals were nicely harmonised and catchy, making for a great set-opener that was well-received by the audience.
Aeons, from the Love of Toxic Wasteland EP, had a heavier feel to it with great guitar work, a punky edge and nice sound distortion. This song perfectly showcases all of Chemtrails’ musical talents and filled the packed venue with wonderful waves of sound.
Setlist
Blurred Visions
St Vitus
Business Class
Death Cult
Aeons
Headless P.U.G
Mushroom Cloud
Frightful
Superhuman
