Let’s start from the beginning people!!
Firstly, if you have never been to a gig at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, let me tell you what it is like.
Once you enter the quaint Hoxton Square, you see a few bars a picturesque Church. You then come upon the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, which is also a music venue. A lively bar area is first noticed, music blaring out, a mix of people standing around. You have old and young people from different eras in their record collection. Passing through the bar area you come to these two, massive-sized barn looking doors. Once through, you’re in the venue itself, all black walls; black ceiling, the bar, which sells Jamaican Ginger beer. That is always a winner for me.
The stage, at the front, and for me a great view. The smell of stale beer is always good. Looking around this small venue, which holds possibly 200, I see purple haired people, people in leather, some in tight jeans, some wearing skater gear and in fact a skateboard, this gig, and this band are for people who just want to rock out, get those cobwebs blown, and have some ear sex.
Throne, one of the support acts, was on, once I arrived. I sadly missed Nymph, due to me being very unmanageable with my time keeping. Throne, of what I heard, I did enjoy, a good chunk of metal, a three piece that just got on with it. They had a good beat with some impressive throat singing and tight playing. I would definitely want to see more of these guys. Impressive lead vocalist, bassist just did what was needed and the drummer who just gave as good as she got. Their timing was great from what I did hear.
At 10pm Arrows of Love enter the stage, and BANG straight into it. No messing around, and no delicate tune to ease the new followers in, just heavy in your face, dirty and filthy noise which is what I love and the people, especially the band themselves want, and enjoy.
Screaming lead vocals by Nima Teranchi, and guitar, who reminded me a bit of Jello Biafra, ex Dead Kennedy’s, with his on stage persona. Bassist, Nuha Ruby Ra, wearing a wedding head dress and a tartan skirt. Then, Lyndsey Critchley, the guitarist and vocalist who, after a couple of tracks strips off her shirt to begin playing in just her bra, while also managing to play the guitar, while having sound problems with the venue. This didn’t deter these guys. They were here to show what they can do and enjoy the moment of playing in front of a crowd. This has been done many times, and frequently, around London, as headline, and also support acts, for such bands as the formidable Skunk Anansie.
They shared a bottle of red wine around the stage while the drummer, Mike Frank, threw some water into the crowd. I found Mike Frank’s drumming impressive, with his style, he has talent. This guy looks like a Chris Cornell early 90’s or if you like, a Geezer Butler from back in the day. He was effortless. The sound the beat was impeccable. Finally, you have their guitarist, who at times looked like he was making love to his guitar. The sounds coming from it, for me, helped push this band to another level, which is astonishing, as apparently, Rufus Miller has only been playing with them for a couple of weeks. If that is what they all can do together now, then these guys are going to be getting better, and bigger, so keep your eye out for Arrows of Love.
The sound problems didn’t seem to affect Arrows of Love, as they professionally just carried on, and smashed their way through it all, with Nima jumping into the crowd, to start his very own mosh pit, and later on, crowd surfing, which is always good to see. With their recent single The Knife, which is out now, being their last-but-one song of the night, maybe for me, it could have been the last song of the night, as it was really fitting to finish, on this tune.
The 5 piece then just finished while the guitar effects were still drowning out the venue and they walked out of the venue in to the cold night air. This then gave us all time to start to filter out through the buzzing Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen in to the night, cold air, of Hoxton Square, to feel, that I have watched some extreme dirty organised chaos.
I am always impressed when a band has to fight sound issues, and still put on a good show. These guys will leave you like you have not just been out, and home, and making that ‘walk of shame’, but will you give you with that ‘stride of pride’, but with a dirty feeling at the same time.
Their album will be out soon and this is called Fuck Everything. Get on it people, see them live, see the future of a fledgling rock, and dirty roll band, and support their cause.
Band Members
Rufus MillerMike Frank
Lyndsey Critchley
Nuha Ruby Ra
Nima Teranchi
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