Death Of An Artist/Heart In Hand/Burn The Fleet

The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth

This gig is a very big deal for Bournemouth band “Death Of An Artist” for one today they release their debut album “X”, and secondly this is a challenge to step up from playing smaller venues and supports to headlining larger venues. The band formed as a four piece in 2009 releasing an Ep “Clarity Of The Collective’, slowly building up a following gigging around the local area, they recruited another guitarist in the form of Gav Thane to bolster their powerful melodic guitar sound. The new 10 track album was recorded at The Ranch studios in Southampton and promises to launch the band’s career further on to a whole new audience.

Tonight should have been a four band event but sadly “Fort Valance” were unable to make it due to transport problems. First up were Southampton’s “Burn The Fleet” who were in a jovial mood opening the show in some style. The band arrive on the back of the release of their own debut album “The Modern Shape” which was given away with last months Rock Sound Magazine. Lead singer Andrew Convey provided some supremely powerful vocals on numbers such as “Fictional Children” and new number “An Absence of Mind”. The audience do not need much encouraging joining in singing along to the bands quality well written lyrics, the end typically with the ever popular “Handfuls of Sand” which you cannot fail to sing-a-along to at the top of your voice.

Burn The Fleet 1–2–3–4–5

By the time “Heart In Hand” arrive on stage the venue has filled up and a large crowd file to the front to get involved in the imminent chaos. Lead singer the heavily tattooed Charlie Holmes zips all over the large stage with masses of energy reaching out to everyone in the audience who by now have formed a sizable mosh pit in the middle of the room. The twin melodic guitars big sound radiates around the large room and providing gigantic backing for Charlie’s aggressive screamo growls. The highlight of the set was when Andrew Convey of “Burn The Fleet” joins Charlie on vocal duties for “Photograph” providing a great contrast of styles which works surprisingly well. The great thing that stands out this evening is the camaraderie between the bands as they all seem to want to join forces and work together, as “Death Of An Artist” vocalist James Leatherbarrow also gets up on stage and joins in for a duet of mammoth brutal power. As the set continues vocalist Charlie whips up the enthusiastic audience and then jumps in the mosh pit to join in the energetic chaos much to the delight of everyone around him, he emerges unscathed, salutes the crowd before leaving the stage to much love and appreciation.

Heart In Hand 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

Death Of An Artist 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–11

As tonight’s curfew is 10pm due to a student club night afterwards, the stage was turned around quickly making way for the main attraction. Despite the importance of the show the band arrived on stage with huge amounts of confidence, the home crowd were on their side right from the start and this was Bournemouth’s acceptance that “Death Of An Artist” have arrived in a big way. The band powered through a set mainly made up of songs from “X” , it was so obvious that they had upped their game, the addition of the new guitarist just gave the band’s sound so much more depth. The songs were delivered better that the ever have before with boundless amounts of energy and a quality that shows that they have worked hard in every area of their performance. The main thing was that the band were having so much fun bringing these new songs out to the masses and their infectious enthusiasm was taken on by the excited audience who seemed to enjoy every moment. Heart In Hand’s Charlie returned the favour and joined the band on stage for “Deny/Accept/Deny” just as he does on the new album. The band leave the stage taking in all the huge amount of respect and appreciation from the audience, who bring them back for on more song, this time it’s an old one called “Creating Armies” which get dusted off and given a full work out. Tonight “Death Of An Artist” celebrate their coming of age and stepping up their game, they now need to take this out and prove that this Bournemouth band can compete with the many other great bands out there.

Set List
Death Of An Artist
Blinded
Wasted Time
Deity
Repulsa
We Are Forgiven
Abuser
Deny/Accept/Deny (Feat. Charlie Holmes)
Dreamer
Creating Armies

Videos
Death Of An Artist