Revere, Jess Bryant

Cargo’s unique location, in the archways underneath London’s Overground line, provided the perfect midweek setting for “Eat Your Own Ears’" promotion of two fantastically different bands that, recently, have been turning the heads of music lovers and critics alike.

Both Revere, and Jess Bryant are London based outfits with contrasting sounds and dynamics that, on the night, complimented each other wonderfully.

First up was Jess Bryant with her brand of “dark cinematic folk”. Supported by her band, who, although comprised of a standard guitar, bass, keyboard and drum set-up, provided all the space and scope offered by a classic Stanley Kubrick movie, giving the music a chamber-like quality that served as the perfect canvass from which Bryant was able to exude her voice upon an acquiescent audience, who upon the stroke of the first few notes of the set were hers to toy with throughout.

If there were to be any criticism of the performance it would only be a slight musical preference. Whilst the dynamics of Jess Bryant’s music was relentlessly alluring, and her vocals were rich and evocative, it felt like there needed to be more variation offered. Bryant’s voice occupies a wonderfully low range, and without the support of some brighter harmonies – used sparingly of course - the overall dynamic of the music, throughout the set, can become a little samey.

However, Bryant's Death Vessel-esque sound is powerfully moving, and is layered with imagery that takes the audience on a journey along a poetic narrative that evokes life's most affirming emotions.

The headline act, Revere is causing quite a stir at the moment. Critics have described them as “storming” and “stirring”, and have bestowed grand phrases like “Epic widescreen melancholia” upon them. It was quickly obvious why. Cargo underwent a 10-minute transformation from atmospheric midweek gig, to full-blown, ram jammed weekend concert, with an eager audience pouring in, in anticipation of the band’s entrance. The atmosphere was fantastic.

Revere hit the stage with a cataclysmic impact that demanded the immediate and whole attention of the room right from the off. From start to finish the band’s high-octane set was laden with memorable hooks and beasty riffs that no doubt set them up for the big time, and a success that they will handle in the most natural of fashions; they are made for it.

Revere was right on the money throughout, and that, to be honest, was a little troubling. A big part of who the band are musically, and visually seemed to be carved from the same stuff of the folk-rock / Nu-folk genre, that, let’s be honest, is just about to leave port and set sail for good. After all, the genre was really thrust upon the music world nearly a decade ago, with the release of Arcade Fire’s “Funeral”, and was thrust even further into the mainstream in 2009, with Mumford and Sons’ “Sigh No More”.

Nonetheless, and regardless of concerns about missing the boat, so to speak, Revere does have an energy and vibrancy that should elevate them to the upper echelons of the scene in no time at all, perhaps even, before that ship leaves port. One could also argue that they are exactly what the scene needs: a new band, with fresh material and a revitalised energy that can separate them from the rest.