Gengahr bring their searing West Coast riffs to Guildford
First things first, Gengahr’s performance in Guildford last night – one of just a handful of shows-to-date – confirmed at least one important detail: contrary to popular belief, the four-piece are definitely not from Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Displaying flashes of early-Radiohead throughout, especially in the clean, crisp rumbles of bass – the band skipped through their five-track catalogue; first taking to the stage with little fanfare, but plenty of youthful verve, to play debut tune, “Dizzy Ghosts”. It proved a fitting intro to those unfamiliar with their lovingly shonky brand of guitar-pop; all vaguely despondent, echo-soaked verses, complimented by machine-gun bursts of cymbal and snare.
The little honeyed coos that emanated from behind the drummer’s tiny toylike kit – a loan from the evening’s headline act – played a pivotal role on wall-of-sound barrage “She’s A Witch”. But the real star on their breakout track remained that thunderous, galloping bass riff which comes to the fore in each verse: a masterclass in nimble fingerpicking, executed from behind an instrument that’s strapped higher than Colin Greenwood ever dared.
Previously unaired third track, “Haunter”, captured a low-slung West Coast feel; its pistonlike, thumping percussion adorned with some of the night’s most searing, sunbaked riffs, while “Fill My Gums With Blood” was every inch the gut-busting indie torch-song we’ve come to adore. The finale of “Powder” oozed nervous energy at its climax, a proper Seattle-meets-Britpop wig out which summed up these boys perfectly: effortlessly infectious but knowingly ragged about the edges, and all the better for it.
Setlist:
Dizzy Ghosts
She’s A Witch
Haunter
Fill My Gums With Blood
Powder
- Mahalia shares self-love anthem, “Life Size”
- Jake Isaac announces new album, BENJAMIN
- BABii announces third album, DareDeviil2000
- Poppy Ajudha sings of queer love on "Girl Next Door"
- Jack White announced as new headliner for Øya Festival 2024
- Watch the official trailer for blur: Live at Wembley Stadium
- Gwen Stefani and Anderson .Paak link up for official song of the Olympics, "Hello World"
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday
![Porter Robinson Smile cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Porter-Robinson-Smile-cover.png?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720091381&s=10bda02ddceec215d8a7991b28b1bf58)
Porter Robinson
Smile! :D
![Ice Spice Y2 K cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Ice-Spice-Y2K-cover.jpg?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721308157&s=803772a1bd528f391e48f455ddbd1dbb)
Ice Spice
Y2K
![Cults TO THE GHOSTS cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Cults-TO-THE-GHOSTS-cover.jpg?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721308477&s=ed9ee8eaeff6e677e9c1782831061750)
Cults
To The Ghosts
![Abbie Ozard Everything Still Worries Me cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Abbie-Ozard-Everything-Still-Worries-Me-cover.jpg?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720091178&s=c87c1cc5c5f50d761c135510e5a4d78f)