Carpet @ The Winchester Gate, Salisbury, 26.7.18

I've picked up a few set lists over recent years, although never anything like this unique info-graphic set list, how cool is this! Accurate too. And, the band? One of Salisbury's finest...Carpet. Carpet are a high quality psychedelic beat combo, a band we first saw supporting west coast maestros Carlton Melton a couple of years ago. We like them. For good reason, they play a very nice line in improvised grooves, I say improvised, clearly there's a plan (the images is evidence), but you can tell by the way the band throw glances at each other that there's an element of flexibility and freedom in their performance. I felt jazz stylings as the individual band members did their things, before blending into a fabulous psychedelic whole, it was proper immersive stuff too. I don't know much background on the band, although I do know guitarist Darren also plays with those Salisbury stalwarts of 60's flavoured psyche The Neighbourhood Strange. Clearly all the musicians are proficient in their art, each band member bringing their best to the table, and all looking to be having fun. The drummer was interesting, there was something decidedly punk about his style and delivery which certainly added to the energy, the other guitarist too was really throwing himself into it...they all were. We were blown away, the whole room were loving it. As the info graphic suggests, so it was. A psyche explosion sent all the musicians hurtling out into space on their own courses, slowly coalescing into a lovely mellow groove, before the beat kicked in and a sumptuous heavy groove took hold, and that really was a lovely heavy groove to finish. Bravo! My only complaint, I wanted more. Another top night at another one of our 'not so local locals' (The Winchester Gate, Salisbury), not so not local as our primary 'not so local local' (The King Arthur, Glastonbury), but still not a local really as to be described as local. I digress. Carpet have changed and most definitely grown since we first saw them a couple of years ago, and they may well have been the support this evening, but I'd happily have turned out just to see them, and hope to catch them again real soon.Check them out here.

Carlton Melton + The Neighbourhood Strange + Carpet @ The Old Ale House, Salisbury

 

You'd think listening to most radio stations or what the television radiates, that our current musical landscape was entirely populated by auto-tuned generic corporate pulp. Though step outside and look beyond the barren musical landscape the media promotes and you find that that is not the case, and that there's a wonderfully rich musical world going on out there in independent venues and at small festivals. Take Carlton Melton. A good friend of mine, who's in the know on things psychedelic, turned me on to Carlton Melton and when an opportunity to see them perform life locally arose, naturally I took it.  

Carlton Melton are a three piece heavy psych band from the West coast of America: Andy Duvall on drums (although starting and finishing on guitar), Rich Millman on lead (and synth/keyboard) and bass man Clint Golden. Their set started slowly with a hypnotic number of guitar and synth, setting the stage and gently sliding you out of one reality and into the Carlton Melton-verse. Then boom!, and we were off, carried by Andy's heavy drumming and Clint's rhythmic bass we were off down the colourful psychedelic tunnels created by Rick's frantic guitar noodlings. Far f*cking out, man. Carlton Melton really know how to rock. Andy bashed away at the drums like a man possessed, Rick wasn't still long enough to get a clear shot of him, in fact, I think he was actually fazing in and out of our reality and Clint, well, Clint's conscientious deep bass vibe kept the band safely tethered in this reality.  They all appeared to be loving it; the crowd were certainly loving it, it was a sea of smiley fly catching faces, blown away by the sonic storm emanating from the stage. We were served a feast of deep psychedelic fare until we returned to where we started, with the band playing a hypnotic guitar and synth number. Then, all too soon, it was over and we were back in the room. Afterwards I took the opportunity to talk to the guys and thank them, what nice fellows, very humble. They all said they'd be back in April, so there's a date for your diary. Carlton Melton nice guys doing top shelf psychedelic music; does what it says on the label.

There were also two support bands on the bill. The first were a band called Carpet, I have to be honest and I'm ashamed to say that I wasn't paying much attention to them and so can't really do a review of justice, although what I heard sounded fine. Next were The Neighbourhood Strange. The Neighbourhood Strange sounded to me like an old style 60's psychedelic garage band, with short, fast paced numbers played with a real retro feel to them and tons of gusto. That's no criticism, I thoroughly enjoyed their set which was delivered very competently.

And the venue? The Old Ale House in Salisbury, a venue of the type I've described and enthused about in previous gig posts, a smallish, friendly pub venue with friendly staff, a good atmosphere and a willingness to put on a wide range of bands. All round a great night. I'll certainly keep my eye out for Carlton Melton and The Neighbourhood Strange, both well worth venturing out for; as well as keeping my eye on who's playing the Old Ale House.