Sick Joy / Shelf Lives / Sadcult

February 1, 2023 Off By Jon

Sixty Million Postcards, Bournemouth

It’s a cold Wednesday evening and the start of the now annual “Independent Music Week”. Starring in our little South Coast corner is three bands of varying styles who blow the cobwebs off any January Blues some punters may still be harbouring. Opening for us are (almost) local trio Sad Cult from across the shoreline in Weymouth. Their Grungey vibe immediately grabs our attention. With no obvious comparisons and no Nirvana influences they hold my gaze throughout. At first it’s rather a noisy wall of sound, but ‘In The Summer’ gives me hope as the lyrics become more decipherable.

Sad Cult 1–2

“Stomping On The Grave” is an early highlight that somewhat lowers the tempo. Chad’s (drums) drumming is precise and Sam’s guitars sound great, but the reverb on Pete’s bass is more than annoying. Annoyance aside “Kill in You” is the set highlight, followed by “Hate/Love” where they reach another level. The percussion is cymbal-heavy in places but the sloppy song endings, notably on the drums lets them down. Tidy that up and they could elevate themselves as a band (IMO). As an opener though, a decent start.

Second on this evening are London-based duo Shelf Lives. This duo create a sound around electric guitar/samples/keys and loops (Jonny) and ballsy, in-yer-face vocals from Sabrina. They are a confident act who aren’t here to just blend in, far from it – right from the get-go the energy rises as they get this crowd onside early with their mesmerising Guitar/Vocals/Bleeps and hollering. I can’t help but notice a nod to Madonna (albeit visually), but Sabrina has lungs full of energy throughout. The sample-led songs evoke memories of 90’s acts PWEI (Pop Will Eat itself) and Senser, while the vocals occasionally have elements of Ting Tings! Jonny opens proceedings with a fuzz-guitar and holler-fest before they launch into “She Gon’ Kill Ya”.

Shelf Lives 1

“Shock Horror” might seem apt on your first Shelf Lives show – they are quite unlike anything one may have witnessed before?! Self-dedication comes in the form of Shelf Life as the energy rises. Jonny has a guitar style not borrowed but unique to him; there’s a resemblance to Cobain in appearance but the similarities end there while Sabrina’s youthful energy is the perfect foil. “Bite” precedes a brilliant cover of Hole’s “Violet” which keeps this growing crowd entertained. They end with “Fighting That Bitch” and I guess from the crowd response, gain an army of new fans.

Headliners Sick Joy take to the stage with little fuss and proceed to bludgeon our senses and hearing! They open with “Smiling”. Mykl (Lead Vocals/Guitar) is the chief shapeshifter and early comparisons are difficult to pinpoint. One or two around me mention Pumpkins, Pearl Jam etc but if I’m gonna nail my flag to the mast I would say hints of InMe, by virtue of power and delivery alone. This Brighton-based Geordie trio make a big, big noise. The basslines throb throughout and the drums are huge. “Stay Numb” follows and we certainly feel it! “We Got More”, no doubting that guys! I have to say it’s all a tad samey for me but I listen on, hoping to be entertained some more. The whole sound veers from Indie/Rock to Grunge and back again, I’m just curious to see if they have that one nugget of a track that elevates their set. And sadly for me, they don’t.

Sick Joy 1

Band/crowd interaction is in short supply too but credit where credit’s due, they play for almost an hour. “Don’t Feel Like Dying” is more melodic than earlier numbers and at least changes the tempo somewhat, while latest single “Painkiller” returns to a more familiar sound. They depart us on “Talking To The Drugs” with its guitar strains, bass throbs and heavy hitting. Lyrically it pulls no punches and I guess that’s the point?! Most of this crowd seems to love Sick Joy but personally, Shelf Lives stole the show tonight. But this show if nothing else has been a triumph for the industry. The “We Broke Free” team have once again put together a stellar cast on a Wednesday night for our entertainment.

Set lists
Sick Joy
Smiling
Heaven
Stay Numb
We Got More
Deep Dream
Stars
Vibe Sucker
Karma
Dissolve
Don’t Feel Like Dying
Nothing Better
Pain Killer
Talking To The Drugs

Shelf Lives
intro
She Gon’ Kill Ya
I Don’t Like Me You
Shock Horror
Call Me
Shelf Life
Skirts and Salads
Mark Twain
Don’t Think I’ll Go Out
Bite
Violet (Hole cover)
Fighting That Bitch

Sad Cult
Ain’t Right
Absolute Zero
Night Terrors
In The Sun
Stomping on the Grave
Rain
Fake Love
Love is Dead
Kill in You
Hate/Love
Bleach The Freak

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