It was just over two years ago that we'd seen American psyche-rockers Carlton Melton perform in Salisbury, and tonight they were back. Anticipation was high, as their performance in 2015 was an extraordinary evening, really, something else, and the opportunity to see them again had been a long time coming. Tonight they were playing at The Winchester Gate, a great little venue, no really, it is a little venue, though with great charm, atmosphere and low beams; Andy (Duvall, drummer/guitarist) came a cropper on one of them, gave himself a nasty knock. The Winchester Gate is one of those venues where the stage is barely higher than the floor, and being set in a small room, it makes for an intimate performance. Support was local psyche band Carpet, who may have only played one track, but it was a bloody long one, and good too. Unfortunately being at the back I saw nought, though what I heard I enjoyed. After the support, as folk went off to the bar, we took the opportunity to secure a position front and centre. Of course, it was a good choice, allowing us to see the band working their magic at close quarters. And magic it certainly was; I suppose you could describe them as musical shaman. These three unassuming guys are accomplished masters of the deep psyche sound-scape and hypnotic drone, and there's more, their heavy psychedelic meditations are punctuated by tracks with solid rock riffs and rhythms; a fantastically complementary juxtaposition. Take their most recent release 'Mind Minerals', a beautiful album which from the opening track grabs your imagination, hypnotizes you, then four sides later you're back in the room, wondering where you were for the last hour and a half, but knowing you were all the better for it. Don't take my word for it, buy it! Anyway, I digress. Interlude over, three guys with guitars take to the stage and immediately work on opening the portals to their somewhere out there musical dimension; Rich Millman (guitar/synth), Andy Duvall (guitar/drums) and Clint Golden (Bass). The scene set, we're off on our magical journey. Andy is now behind the drums (he'll periodically move forward with his guitar again) and is bashing out some driving rhythms. Clint is doing what bass players often do, staying in the shadows, ensuring the rhythms are maintained and clean, an anchor in this reality, which he does with masterful understatement Whilst Rich plays sublime guitar, periodically twiddling knobs and pushing keys creating a synth canvas for his guitar to glide over. These guys are skilled professionals, but more importantly than that, you can see and feel the passion for their music in their performance. I know the venue was small, but still, their sound filled it to bursting, you weren't so much listening to the music as immersed in it. Standing directly in front of Rich I got to really appreciate his skill as a guitarist, as seemingly effortlessly he made his guitar make the most wonderful sounds. Andy too, moving with ease from guitar to drums and back again, looked blissed out (I suppose that could have been concussion, kidding!). They all looked like they were enjoying performing as much as we were enjoying the performance. I couldn't tell you the titles of the tracks they played, I'm rubbish like that, though be assured it was from start to finish solid gold, not a minute was filler, with each track receiving enthusiastic applause. As with all good things, all too soon it was over, safely returned to the room the audience was all smiles. What a fantastic evening, and what lovely guys, no pretension, happy to chat with the audience, sign stuff and importantly for a band of their calibre and standing, prepared to play an out of the way tour date in a smaller venue. Kudos. Thanks to Carlton Melton (and The Winchester Gate) for a memorable evening, I hope it's not so long before their return this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment