Matt Barnes
Passionate Cornish music journalist in Bristol. Often found making notes whilst crowd surfing.
Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii take over Rough Trade for the launch party of their second album ‘Pitchfork Libra’
The Excitement and intensity in the room was palpable as we all gathered to celebrate the release of Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii’s second album Pitchfork Libra, with an intimate home town show at Rough Trade, Bristol. This was perfect timing as the album had a week to breathe its existence into our ears and give us time to indulge in some binge-listening in preparation. I love a quick turnaround from release to live show. I find it captures a space in time: the unpredictability and fragility of a stage show still in its infancy is gripping for both artist and crowd.
Feeling the fragility of playing new material too was tonight’s support, John E Vistic, who I found plastering Rough Trade’s already stimulating walls with stickers for his new single ‘DEATHGASM‘. John presented in a less than fragile mood as he laughed in a quick chat, “If I fuck it up, it’s only 2 minutes long, nobody will notice!”
John is a wiry punk rock performer and spends a large proportion of his set standing on the amps, wielding his guitar, delivering guttural, gravel punk. He is backed by a band containing guitarist Rob Norbary (Bristol Legend Emily Breeze’s guitarist).
The new single is rattled through with ease, as a one-man, leather-clad smiley, sweating mosh pit has found its way to the front, filling the gap in front of the stage. This is not lost on John as he gives him the mic stand to scream to his heart’s content. John’s soon to be found barging a fan, then embracing him, tangled, mangled up, and ready to swing.
The show changes quickly from the turbulent Punk Rock of ‘Rattlesnakes‘ to the Moody Blues of the enthrallingly epic set closer ‘Jupiter‘. Infused with elongated, stunning sax solos, Hendrix-esque biting guitars, it picked me up, spun me round, and dropped me in an entirely unexpected and different pleasurable place. Be sure to watch Vistic’s blues band, The Dirty Weather Blues Revue, at Bristol Fringe for more of the latter.
Then to the main event. ESOP don their stage show attire, all in black and white with singer Thomas Hawtin resplendent in his trademark black lips and transparent blouse emblazoned with cosmic diamonds shining like constellations under bright stage lights. The set begins with album opener ‘Ten Ton Delirium‘, a melodic, frenetic battering ram and the epitome of their sound. They’ve smashed any first nerves right out of the room.
The bar is set high already, and I’m ready for the onslaught of bangers to come. ‘Osiris‘ leaps out of the stage and grabs my senses. I want this as my alarm in the morning- it’s followed by the Synth Gothic pop of ‘Zygote‘, where after chants of “MEL MEL MEL!” Mel joins us to slay a sax solo alongside singer Thomas’s, whose wide eyes bulge as if giving everyone in the room direct eye contact.
There is a big thank you to the fans who donated to the band’s Kickstarter campaign to fund ‘Pitchfork Libra‘ and make everything possible.
‘Moving Sideways into Lightning‘ is an infectiously steady, pulsating number with an electrifying solo from Tom Hackwell. Newest band member Louise Schwarz provides the groovy glue throughout, with prominent bass providing the rhythmic pulse of the band. Never more so than in ‘The Dawn Is Not Our Enemy,‘ proving the perfect foil for Hawtin’s rambunctious and flawless vocal delivery. Sadly, all sets must end. ‘Utterly Rudderless‘ emphatically closes the show with every inch of hyperactive, exuberance squeezed from Thomas Hawtin’s soul.
In front of me, a wired fan grabs the set list, holds it up, and points to it exclaiming, “BANGER, BANGER BANGER. BANGER!
Can’t disagree.
Listen to ‘Pitchfork Libra’ here: