Photo + Words: Kate Warby
As the rapidly growing, alternative rock band, The North, rallied the crowd gathered for the headliner of the night, Basht. It was clear, in an instant, that they managed to captivate the crowd, primarily caused by frontman Billie Memphis’ effortless front man talent. This seems to be a consistent theme that these more alternative bands are able to find talented support acts that perfectly not only fit into their own music but into the discographies of their fans seamlessly, I think this is usually due to these artists being real fans of these up and coming bands and leading a hand to those they see thriving in the future. Highlighting how their audiences will continue to overlap each other throughout the predicted growth of the both of these bands. The band could have almost fitted into the crowd that I’m sure they would have joined in watching Basht in such a small venue before they race to fill bigger spaces. We’ve seen bands and musicians skyrocketed into stardom overnight via Social media and I feel this tour for Basht is their turn, following in the footsteps of their fellow alternative rock peers, such as Fontaines D.C. in recent years.
Before the band even entered the stage on this buzzing Friday night we can see how they hold a glue that allows their audiences to socialise amongst themselves. With them not only all being fans of the band being a previously established common interest but also the stylistic choices that all seem to attract perfectly while all holding morbidly different aspects to them. This is highlighted by the songs that prelude the band entering the stage, with fans cohesively singing along to “Celling” by bleach, and “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis as one. In their pre set playlist its evident that this band don’t do anything that they wouldn’t personally enjoy as a fan, which I think allows for a level of transparency elevating the connection between artist and fan. As, if fans like the headliners music they likely have a common interest in music genres.
As soon as lead singer, Jack Leavey, walked on stage fans were ready to give this night their all, and grant every command conducted over the audience. This was highlighted by fans being so attentive to what he wanted them to do, whether clapping to the beat or singing back to him, they were doing it before he even had the time to request it. This verified the level of dedication both fans and audience hold for each other.
This band revealed their differences from their peers in every aspect of showbiz, not through just their lyricism but also the lighting design and movement of lead singer, Leavey, around the stage throughout the entirety of the set. An example of this is them splitting the stage lighting during “Terror TV” to create and fifty fifty split of a red and almost blue stage. Having openly spoken publicly about how this song came to fruition while doomscrolling through the terrible events happening all over our earth, while so many politicians seem to sit stagnant. A feeling of having all this information laid out in front of us but having little to no control leaving people feeling paralyzingly overwhelmed, I think the fie piece achieve this same motion through every aspect of the production of this song in particular as Leavy jumps from side to side of the stage in a chaotic and frantic state. I always thoroughly enjoy shows where the band cares about the display around them just as much as the sound, quality and type of music that they’re putting on for the masses as it shows those bands trying to make a difference through their art taking the extra mile.
With songs with more lighthearted themes throughout the set fans gathered with loved ones both new and old to celebrate coming together in times where so many things are so negative we can come together in a room and celebrate the time and people we get to surround ourselves with.
Jack Leavey, continued to flaunt his relationship with The North members when inviting lead singer Memphis back onto the koko stage to join him in his own set, further showing the confidence he has in this bands potential and talent. As they both continue to collectively look towards the future with their own respective band mates, it remains clear that they have a connection that runs deeper than a business agreement and I think somewhere in the future a collaboration between these two could hold listeners spellbound when listening.
This band knows how to work a crowd, and when handed such willing participants their job was made even easier, rallying the crowd and bringing them along the ride of their almost cinematic show. In a time where outspoken, Indie rock artists hold young listeners in a chokehold I feel they have rooms of people already desperate to get a look at the band live.
