Friday night saw The Ship Isis in Sunderland play host to a great night of live music as post-punk band House Proud and gothic group The Black Rain took to stage to showcase the genre at its very best.
The gorgeous venue was a perfect choice for the evening, offering a selection of great craft beers and a warm, friendly environment. I’d never been before, but I’d definitely return if I’m ever in Sunderland.
The night was opened by House Proud, who hail from all across the North East. Their blend of post punk and noise rock was excellent and really got the night started in the right way.
Their sound carried influences from post-punk groups like The Chats, Squid, and Shame, with angular riffs and an energetic tempo driving their performance. Each track stood out with careful composition, crafted from an array of different guitar pedals that brought a near studio-quality sound.
Their third song, Farmers Village, soon to be released as a single, had shades of post-punk titans IDLES to it and was a particular treat. Recent single Rescue Dog finished the set off in the right way, sounding a bit like South London’s Shame, but with an even heavier emphasis on riffs and gloriously loud noise.
I particularly enjoyed Perfect Body, which was more melodic in its approach while still delivering the massive, bombastic sound that dominated their set.
Overall, their performance was amazing, and they will definitely be a band which I will be keeping an eye on going forward.
I also wanted to leave a link to Wearside Women In Need, a domestic violence service the group were raising funds for on the night. They have recently lost their funding, so it’s a worthy cause if you can support it!
Next were The Black Rain, who I previously covered back in March at their gig at the Bunker, where they really impressed me with their gothic post-punk.
Friday was no different with the group putting in yet another excellent performance of starkly dark tracks. The group have been hard at work since March and that could be seen in their performance with various new songs in the set which continue to show why the band are so special.
Despite the stark nature of their sound, The Black Rain‘s set fizzed with energy, with the thumping drums and bass keeping the atmosphere lively.
The bass was particularly impressive, adding depth to the performance, while the guitar lines often served as beautifully intricate embellishments.
However, when the guitar did come to the fore, it was really impressive, often bringing an almost synth-like sound to certain tracks, which was a real treat. Shadows Cry showcased this best, amplifying the gothic feel, reminiscent of Joy Division’s Closer LP.
I also enjoyed the dark ’80s vibe of Regression, which really opens up in the chorus, creating a really nice feel. Glass Box brought a lot of energy leaning more on the side of punk rather than goth which I found really enjoyable.
Overall, both bands put in a fantastic performance, which led to a really enjoyable night showing the various different styles of post punk each performed at a really high standard. Make sure to check them both out!
Humbug North East 