Live Review | Geordie Greep @ The Fleece, Bristol

George Ward

Freelance journalist and online editor for CLUNK. Can be found out and about in Bristol, finding cheap records or having a pint on King Street.

With a new band and a new sound, Geordie Greep took to The Fleece for a joyous, loose and extremely impressive celebration of his debut album

Geordie Greep, ex-frontman of black midi and writer of ‘The New Sound,’ one of the most exhilarating and refreshing albums of the year, is on the road yet again, travelling across the UK to spread the word of his debut solo album. With his band opening the set with a funky jam, Greep eventually made his entrance. Dressed in full chef whites, he introduced the band, before announcing “welcome to the kitchen” and slipping straight into first track ‘Walk Up’.

As a band, Greep and his crew were fascinating to watch, equally as tight with the album’s complex structures as they were loose with the set’s funk and jazz jams and solos. At times, Greep would almost conduct the others while singing, indicating when they should continue a solo, quiet down for a build up or explode for a climax.

Playing together, the five-piece seemed effortless, especially on funkier cuts such as the instrumental ‘The New Sound’. They complimented one another wonderfully and the 90 minute set time left plenty of time for these instrumental jams to breathe and for each member to fuck around as much as they seemed fit.

At one point, the band broke into a bluesy section, during which Greep asked the crowd: “When your friends ask you what kind of music we play, what are you going to say? The blues.” And then, with no warning, he nonchalantly announced “and this song is called ‘Blues'” before the band instantaneously locked in and tightly thrashed out the brutal intro to ‘Blues’.

It was this ability to switch from loose and breezy experimentation to tightly arranged riffs which was just so impressive. Equally impressive were Geordie Greep’s vocals. I have personally always loved the bizarre vocal choices Greep has made throughout his career, but for others that may have been sceptical, hearing him fully belt each and every line from his album with complete conviction and sincerity will surely do at least something to you.

The humour from the lyrics came to life when performed life, the fragile moments all the more beautiful. ‘Bongo Season,’ somewhat of an interlude on the album, was expanded into a much longer jam while ‘Holy Holy’ proved to everyone just why it deserved to be the lead single. The catchiest on the album saw Geordie fully take control as frontman and, without the need to always act as guitarist, this left him free to fully commit to vocal duties.

We were even treated to a new track, fronted by cellist Felix. The track was so full of life and so loveable, more similar to a BC,NR track than anything on ‘The New Sound,’ and hearing Felix’s speedy and playful vocals atop his incredible cello playing made us all desperate to hear more of the same, whether under the Greep name or on a solo project.

After a slightly surreal Frankie Valli cover of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,’ Greep eased us into the final two tracks. On both ‘As If Waltz’ and ‘The Magician,’ he masterfully handled the songs’ lengthy runtime, guiding us through the winding arrangements with total confidence and passion. Hearing the gorgeously dramatic climax to ‘The Magician’ was one of the most beautiful moments of live music I’ve seen in a long time. And to think he almost ran out of time to play it.

Whether you are a die-hard black midi fan or have only discovered Geordie Greep with this new solo project, I couldn’t recommend checking them out live enough. The tracks feel so fresh, so funky and so much fun and you can see just how much everyone on stage is enjoying bringing them to life.

Listen to ‘The New Sound’ here: