To the twitter of birds and forest sounds, Turbowolf appear one by one into the bated anticipation of the Rescue Rooms; although the room is just over half-full, it is clear that their dedicated following know what to expect. The four piece from Bristol, whose stylings critics have yet to effectively categorise, have returned to tour the UK ahead of the release of their new album next year. Spanning from hard rock to electronica, alternative metal to psychedelia, Turbowolf kicked off their tour with resounding force and an impressive tightness to their performance – though what else is to be expected from a band who, despite various changes in personnel, spent several years touring and developing their sound before even releasing an album. The kind of craft and energy that went into Turbowolf in 2011 is clearly the same kind which fuelled their performance at Rescue Rooms, to the evident appreciation of their audience.
As their music suggests, Turbowolf are clearly fans of the unusual and unpredictable. Frontman Chris Georgiadis comes typically bearing colourful shirt and striking moustache, and immediately engages with the crowd. Throughout the set, whilst Ghosh, Lianna Lee Davies and Blake Davies (Guitar, Bass and Drums) are far from motionless, Georgiadis will roam around the stage with a towel over his face, the wall of a golden playhouse around his neck, will fall about the crowd, hugging whoever he can find, and generally appearing completely lost in the performance. None of this undermines, however, the execution of their set, which, with a mixture of favourites from their old work and teasers of what’s to come on Two Hands next April, is on point.
[quote]The kind of craft and energy that went into Turbowolf in 2011 is clearly the same kind which fuelled their performance at Rescue Rooms[/quote]
A far cry from gigs that develop in peaks and troughs, the adrenaline and excitement of the room is maintained throughout, such is the energy conveyed in Turbowolf’s performance. Nonetheless, highlights are certainly found in the most popular songs from the first album, and the excitement of their most recent single releases. Nodding of heads turns to shoving of bodies as they unfold through ‘Ancient Snake’, ‘Read + Write’ and ‘A Rose for the Crows’, in which heavy riffs, eerie synth and the distinctly stirring vocals of Georgiadis demonstrate the singular and striking nature of their sound. To the announcement that they would play some tracks that will feature on Two Hands, the token dickhead at every vaguely hardcore gig replied with the seemingly ungrounded opinion: “That sounds shit.” – Georgiadis calmly reassured the rest of Rescue Rooms that they had in fact tried their very best to make the new stuff “not shit.” Following through on his reassurance, new singles ‘Solid Gold’ and ‘Rabbit’s Foot’ verify Georgiadis’ claim, with the psychedelic fills and imagery of the former to the groovy, bassy rhythms of the latter.
[quote]Turbowolf are clearly fans of the unusual and unpredictable[/quote]
Finishing on the frenetic ‘Let’s Die’, they leave their captive fans calling for more. For those who don’t make it to the December tour, it seems inappropriate, in this case, to assure you that there’s more of the same to come from Turbowolf – by their nature, what is surely to come is more of the different.
James Noble
Image by Adam Glasson
James is listening to ‘Friends’ by Fish Tank
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