Photo Credit: Megan Hardy
Words: Emilie Broad
Following the release of their debut album, Victim of a casual thing, The Clause has hit the world with their tour where multiple dates have sold out. This band has been on my concert bucket list. I saw them at Thekla with support from Eighty Eight Miles and The Kairos. Thekla is such a unique venue, how many times can you say you’ve been to a concert on a boat. It is located just on the outskirts of Bristol city centre with good local transport links. As it is a boat there isn’t anywhere step free to reach the inside of the venue. In addition there is no seated are but the venue are happy to bring a chair to the balcony if you so require just make sure to ask.
Opener #1 was Eighty Eight Miles. I hadn’t heard this band before so I had no idea what to expect from them. My initial impression of them walking on stage was how effortlessly cool their vibe was. Kicking off the set with Always On The Run, their latest release. There was something excitingly familiar about their sound, with a powerhouse voice I was sucked into their performance. Think Fleetwood Mac’s cool indie cousin and you have Eighty Eight Miles. My top song of their set was ‘Diana’ and their cover of ‘The Chain’ has got to be the best I’ve ever heard. Eighty Eight Miles have definitely got the potential to be mega, my playlists definitely have some new additions.
Opener #2 was The Kairos and I had high hopes for them. Always popping up on my Spotify indie mix, I was eager to see how they hold up live and they didn’t let me down. Delivering a class performance, this band had the crowd in their hands. With a sound of an indie coming of age The Kairos had me captivated, I just couldn’t look away. The top song of the their set was ‘Rat Race’ released in November this year, Just an amazing tune and was great live. I was able to catch the band before and after the gig, these are some genuine lads who took time to talk to fans and make sure posters had everyone’s signature on it. With their tour coming in April I’m eager to see where this band will go. One things for sure, I’ll be there.
With a crowd tense with anticipation, The Clause cut through it like a knife. Opening with ‘Nothings As It Seems’ instantly getting the crowd’s attention. The entire gig was high energy, it felt as if the performance was too big for the venue like they were going to burst the bolts off the boat with their sheer power. The Clause created an electric atmosphere that could be felt throughout the entire venue, it completely rocked the boat. The connection the band had with the crowd was so organic, it felt like watching your mates. Your properly talented mates who you can’t help but be jealous of because they’re that good. The crowd was living for it going wild for every word. I was quite happy I was at the very front else I would have been caught up in a storm of constant mosh pits. There was a small incident mid concert where a mosh got out of hand that made the band stop. Luckily, no one was hurt and it got handled very quickly, something that doesn’t happen very often.
The Clause said “the band belongs to the fans” and you could feel it from the way they played to they time they spent post gig talking to fans and posing for pictures. It was great to see them up on that stage, completely in their element.
Taped Magazine 