Live Review | Clay Allison Get Blitzed Eat Pie EP Launch Party

Words & Photography by Kieran Webber

The anarchic sounds of Clay Allison provided the perfect backdrop for the resignation of U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. It was a day that many will remember. Those of us at the Clay Allison EP launch will remember getting wild & sweaty to a barrage of fantastic music. Joining Clay Allison was there friends Flowers Of Palo, Facepaint and Reni & The Bonglords. Each band brought their own unique sound and style to the intimate stage of Hillbilly‘s.

It was an unseasonably wet day in Falmouth but that didn’t stop people from turning out. The night kicked off with Flowers Of Palo, a Newquay based female fronted indie outfit. It’s no secret that Mac Demarco is a huge influence on lead singer Emma Chamberlain and this jangly indie dream pop sound is very present.

Following on from this was the intense, heavy sound of Facepaint who came out absolutely swinging. From the first track to the last they threw themselves into their music. The anthemic, pulsing riffs took control of the room and crowd went from mellow to chaotic. It was an intense set that saw mighty riffs, thumping percussion and wailing guitars, it was absolutely fantastic. The highlight of their set was when they covered King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizards ‘ ‘The Lord Of Lightning’. It was an intense barrage of psych tinged rock ‘n’ roll that was a close homage to the original. There was plenty of reverb and tangents throughout. It boasted their massive potential and wild sound.

After a quick break (a much needed one) Reni & The Bonglords took to the stage and within seconds the madness started again. The packed out room threw themselves into a frenzy as the Ty Segall inspired sounds came bellowing out the amps. Limbs and bodies flew all over the place with lead singer Connor Powell getting amongst it one point. His body held high above the crowd as he shredded his guitar. For a moment he was held to the light and took the role of garage rock deity.

Finishing things off were the hosts of the night, Clay Allison. Naturally they played their ‘Get Blitzed Eat Pie’ EP in its entirety as well as older material. The politically charged noise-rock/punk was a perfect backdrop for the day Theresa May stepped down as PM and leader of the Conservative party. As with the other bands the packed out crowd were flinging themselves round, crowd surfing was a common occurrence.

Each band played with the tenacious energy, it was utterly infectious. It solidified that Cornwall has a strong emerging music scene that is filled with amazing talent. It’s going to be exciting watching these bands grow, keep your eyes peeled for them!