Matthew Wellham
Photographer & Filmmaker based in East London. A lover of the post-punk and alternative movement, he can usually be found at the back of the Shacklewell Arms or Moth Club, camera in one hand and a beer in the other.
Hot off the heels of new single ‘Real Tree Lee’, Adult DVD rolled into town for three nights of sold-out shows at The Shacklewell Arms
It’s fair to say that Leeds six-piece Adult DVD arrived to The Shacklewell Arms with serious buzz. Their EP ‘Next Day Shipping’ is lined with bangers and ‘Real Tree Lee’ has already been met with praise from the community. So, how does it all translate live?
Forty-five minutes before stage time, the pub was heaving. Out front, bar staff were relentlessly pouring pints and out back there was barely a sliver of space to squeeze into. Clearly, the grim February weather wasn’t putting anyone off.
Filtering through the crowd and taking their places on stage, Adult DVD opened with ‘It Is What It Is’ before diving straight into fan favourite ‘Because I Like It’. Frontman Harry Hanson’s vocals are blunt and feisty. The no-nonsense lyrics are sharp and do exactly what they say on the tin. Behind him, the band fuse punk and electronica into their own unique blend, reminiscent of Chalk, DITZ, or, if you want to throw it back, Hadouken!.
‘Doomsday Prepper’ is where the electronics really surge. The Shack’s strobes pulse in unison with trembling synths, transforming the venue into a soaking rave den. It’s intoxicating. ‘Yacht Money’ dials back the synths in favour of indie textures, but ‘Dogs in the Sun’ drags things straight back into the red.
The atmosphere is full-blown party mode. The walls sweat, the crowd bounce and mosh, drinks are flying. Throwing myself into it, I can’t help but think “damn, I wish I didn’t have work in the morning“. The only thing that slightly tarnishes the night is the Shack’s sound system; it’s simply too quiet for a show like this. Hanson acknowledges this after heckles to turn it up: “We know, it’s not up to us.”
After road-testing a couple of new tracks (both utterly entrancing), it’s time for ‘Real Tree Lee’. It’s a formidable track – bold and forward-thinking. At its core is a simple story of an insular man, but it’s wrapped in a spiralling, trance-like bassline that’s impossible not to sink your teeth into. Thrashing guitar breaks offer just enough time to inhale before the band double down and launch into one hell of an outro.
‘Real Tree Lee’, along with the unreleased singles aired tonight, takes everything that worked on ‘Next Day Shipping’ and pushes it further. It’s wittier, heavier and more infectious. They make you want to snarl the lyrics, get stuck into a mosh and throw your head back. Adult DVD’s live shows capture that energy perfectly. They’re a joy to watch and I’m stoked to hear what comes next.
If you get the chance to grab a ticket for one of their upcoming shows, do it. I reckon even the real Real Tree Lee would stick his head in.
Listen to ‘Real Tree Lee’ here:
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