Bilk brought new album Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll to a packed Brudenell Social Club and with it a healthy dose of mayhem, crowd surfing and big sing-a-longs. Bringing the average age up by a good few years when I walk into the room it’s a relief when, after a few minutes, it’s apparent that I’m not the only ancient one here who still appreciates new alternative music by young, decent bands with a healthy swagger and attitude. But it is a young crowd. And that’s a good thing proving, as it does, that not every music loving human under the age of 30 has been sucked in to the massive main stream, stadium filling pop blandness that often dominates the airwaves and social media. Bilk’s songs are huge, grimey, punchy, punky rock n roll injected with a healthy dose of 90’s Britpop and hip-hop. You don’t need to strain your ears too hard to hear the blatantly obvious sounds of Oasis, Nirvana, Beastie Boys and others. A clever move stamping a young, modern twist on sounds that were, and still are, massive favourites amongst the indie crowd.
Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll dominates the setlist with its punchy noises and lyrics about everything from shagging, falling in love, not taking life too seriously and individuality. RNR, Slag, Go have the crowd bouncing. Fists punching the air, heads shaking, faces smiling. And with Skidmark who doesn’t love a sing-a-long to a song featuring the word c*nt numerous times. It takes little encouragement from singer/guitarist Sol Abrahams to get a mosh-pit going properly (with the emphasis on looking out for each other) and mosh they do. But not in that aggressive, ‘I’m the hardest one here’ way. This is a mosh pit full of people having fun, knowing that it’s a safe space and knowing those around you have got your back. Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll has been in the world less than two months but those here tonight know it by heart. There’s none of that lull you get when a band plays something new and it’s a breath of fresh air not to be stood in a crowd who only know the big hits a band had over 30 years ago meaning there’s no let up in the atmosphere and no-one just stood around talking. Older songs from 2023 self-titled debut are dotted throughout the set. The ferocious Brand New Day appears early, ramping up an already hyped crowd. Be Someone and Fashion are packed with hard hitting, rock tinged hip-hop. By the time Bilk near the end of their set it seems that most of the room is bouncing. Crowd surfers are carried front to back to front, others are up on shoulders. Daydreamer closes the four song encore and a gig that has been packed with frenetic energy, chaos and joy from both band and crowd. Bilk, along with countless others, are helping to keep the underground, alternative scene alive. Young, full of attitude and proving beyond doubt that at least some of today’s younger generations seek out and support something away from the mainstream.
Huge shout-outs must also go to openers Reiver who take just seconds to win over the crowd with their powerful, guitar driven indie rock packed full of catchy beats and a stage presence full of a confidence rarely seen in a band this young. Give them a listen – recent EP A Higher State Of Mind From A Lower Point Of View is well worth some of your time. Credit to the venue and to Bilk for giving new bands an oppotunity to play a gig like this.
And to The Cheap Thrills with their glorious, irresistible, foot tapping, hook you in set of crowd pleasers.
Words/photos: Steve White
