Review by DAVID SAYERS

The Bird was alight with music and BBQ sausages on Sunday 13 November as local industrial-rockers, HEYTESBURG held a fundraiser for the recording of their second EP, the follow up to this years release ‘From the River I Come To the Desert I Go’.

SEAN O’NEILL (of Hang On St. Christopher fame) kicked things off with a fantasy soundscape of textured guitar loops and crystalline vocals. His songs were the result of deep focus, with multiple pedals being used to achieve a hypnotic swell of orchestral sounds. Still, the highlight came when Sean set technology aside for an impressive rendition of Neil Young’s ‘Helpless’ and allowed the audience to connect with the performer on stage.

There was an immediate response from the growing crowd as PLACE OF INDIGO began playing their own brand of gloomy rock. Singer/guitarist Sam Joice seemed totally engrossed in his own vibe as he plucked reverberated musings from his Fender Jazzmaster. Similarly, the rest of the four-piece were also totally ensconced, as they delivered well crafted songs that drew inspiration from both, The Cure and The Horrors (and one that sounded akin to the Dr. Who Theme). Despite some slight technical difficulties which would reoccur later in the night – as well as the bass being mixed disturbingly loud, the band put on a thoroughly entertaining show.

‘Since this is an intimate setting, we’re gonna start with our quieter songs and get louder as we go,’ explained Heytesburg’s singer/guitarist, Nick Gardiner as the band unveiled a fresh slab of dark tunes to their supportive fans. Bassist Adam Fardig and keyboardist Patrick Mcginty played like seasoned vets and despite this being his first show, drummer Andrew Griffiths fit the mould nicely as he pounded out some aggressive tribal drum beats looming over his kit like a vengeful ghost. Tracks both new and old were offered to the crowd, with the former drawing focus to the bands overdriven guitar riffs, and the latter taking on a more Eastern influenced synth-vibe. Regardless, each track really allowed for some great band dynamics on stage. The ethereal ‘Tomb’ proved an early highlight and will no doubt garner the band some new fans when the new EP is released. And despite falling prey to some technical difficulties midway with the keyboard succumbing to a minor stroke, the group powered on through the set without much of a disruption. After a sincere thankyou and farewell, Heytesburg finished off the night with their debut single, the intensely driven ‘Once Were Kings‘ and evaporated from the stage. The show was over.