It would seem that Prog truly does live in the heart of North London. With the holy trinity of venues being homes away from home for bands the world over. From the Islington 02 Academy, Union Chapel and now the Islington Assembly Halls. A quaint venue which has been the home to some of the more regal of Progressive leanings. Tonight we welcome back one of the genre’s most nostalgic of bands, Riverside.
[date]20th October 2015[/date]
[venue]Islington Assembly Halls[/venue]
[city]Lodnon, Islington[/city]
[support_bands]Lion Shepherd, The Sixxis, [/support_bands]
We may still be in London but tonight the Assembly Halls become temporarily Polish with the announcement that upstarts Lion Shepherd take to the stage. The collective age of the performers on stage is probably half that of the normal Prog Rock concert goer. Bringing a sense of energy to their performance immediately makes the band stand out. Stating that this is the first time that they have performed a show of the magnitude the band seem to be out of their depth. Nevertheless the material speaks for itself, with interesting takes on what confinements of Prog as a genre might be the band add a sense of life into the evenings proceedings. Giving renditions of tracks that for one even contain an Oud! Originally the fusty audience had made up their mind by the end everyone’s preconceived notions are second guessed. An exceptionally poignant moment for the band who humbly request a photo for their mother back home. I would imagine that she will be getting a lot more photos with a lot more people in them in the future .
Up next we cross the pond slightly for our American friends in The Sixxis. Taking to the stage it is apparent that the band are more seasoned than our previous younger stalwarts. Confidently working the crowd front man Vladdy Ishkhanov knows exactly where the band are, with the odd placement of the drum kit being on the side stage it seems like an odd set up yet when there are as many musicians as these on the stage it’s understandable. Before a terrific rendition of new track “Failed Design” it seems that the band pull out their ace in the hole.
With singer going all Ne Obliviscaris and whipping out an electric violin the song becomes incredibly more poignant. Though personally I felt that the band weren’t quite as strong as our Polish upstarts they had a cool calm and collected feel delivering tightly wound riffing with vocal lines that would make Labrie blush. An interesting second act that showcase promise yet might not quite shake their influences just yet, nevertheless they will get there and their performance tonight, which I can only deduce has been filmed for an upcoming promotional video was ablaze with tehchnical its and flair.
Often a risky move to decide to completely change up a formula that has clearly been working so well for a band, just last month Riverside released their sixth brand new album Love, Fear And The Time Machine. Incorporating more of a mellow sound, oscilliating over soundscapes of nostalgia. Luckily most Progressive fans are open minded, you would have to be. As the Hall’s an overcast Blue hue the serene back track’s volume gets whacked up as our hosts for the night walk out on stage.
Beginning the set with album opener “Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened By A Hat?)” the band instantly mesmerise the crowd. Transfixed as we’re guided through a sonic scrapbook of memories. Much of tonight doesn’t necessarily focus on the new material, swiftly making their way through their catalogue from the energised “Hyperactive” with a fantastic light show making the rendition of the track all the more jarring yet fantastically theatrical. Moving into a shrouded “The Depths Of Delusion” we see the band return to their previous album which coincidentally revolves around much of tonight’s material. Perhaps due to the more lively spirit of the album we see some of the heavier material shine through. Melancholy seems to go hand in hand with the Riverside sound with a beautiful “We Got Used To Us” though we are treated to an excellent “Saturate Me” which is decidedly heavier in a live setting. Contrary to the serene sounds on a stereo the track’s bass guitar introduction packs a mighty wallop. Nevertheless it’s short lived as another new cut “Discard Your Fear” appears to serenade our audience.
Making for a beautiful juxtaposition of just how far the band have come since the earlier days of the trilogy to the serene subdued overtones of Love, Fear And The Time Machine. Tonight the band have deftly worked their way through their discography. Without creating jarring changes derailing the evening as a whole owing to the polarizing differences between the band’s earlier work. Closing with a rendition of their oldest material from Out Of Myself’s “The Same River” to the present day where the band have been “Found (The Unexpected Flaw Of Searching)“. Neatly bookending a performance showing that Riverside not only know exactly where they are going but like their metaphorical time machine can reach back into the past, make it relevant in the present to forge forwards fearlessly in the future.
