A View From The Back Of The Room: Creeper (Misfit Jax)

Creeper, Calva Louise & Starbenders, Tramshed, Cardiff, 08.10.26

The Tramshed a venue near Cardiff City center it has been used for many different types of music and many different artists and bands, it's even been used for a wedding receptions, raves, sometimes comedy acts or talks but tonight it is for the band from Southampton with their off with their heads tour kicking off in Cardiff to start their UK tour.

Before the openers, the inside the stage set alluringly haunting, the audience full of people top and bottom while still people approaching to get a good spot. The crowd looking at their absolute best dress or their most casual, some get their hands on merch, all priced to suit all budgets, and queue when waiting to come here and enjoy a band they are all fond of. Bless their black hearts waiting in the rain and cold of this gig while hoping some people attending don't loose the face paint they put on to go with the bands motif.

The opening band, Starbenders (8) come all the way from across the pond specifically Atlanta, Georgia, Requiem Overture Of O Forutna plays as their intro, lights go black, hype builds up band approaches the stage the look of the band very nostalgic like a band you saw playing in the background of a club scene in an 80s/90s movie, the stage lights move and flash on the band classically with colours changing primarily but to for the mood of the songs. 

Kimi Shelter looking very Cher's Witches Of Eastwick meets Hearts Ann Wilson gives her performance in both vocalist and guitarists and uses the stage to her advantage. The songs for example like Tokyo and Summon My Heart, give that hard rock flow and cadence with the music vibe, similar to bands like Joan Jett, Heart, with the rest of the band in the moment with such a dark setting, a win over performance with cheers and applause.

Next up Calva Louise (7) who brings a multinational band and focusing more on a gothic/synth John Carpenter esq intro, which is followed by modern synth with narrative heard in the background that for me unfortunately cannot not be made out due to the drums starting off. 

Calva Louise are a different style, a different type of performance than Starbenders, with metal being main concept with elements of salsa, samba, synth, industrial even edges classical music from hundreds of years ago. It's music that just wants to pull you in rather than feel the flow, using the keyboard draw in and out when needed in use for the songs and performance and also the music being bilingual tracks bringing power passion and statement while closing and leaving the show with a track of old Latin salsa being played.

Now of course the main event, while leading up to the main event, the band put on their fictional radio station and played some 80s hits closing with Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell. Then as the white sheet was up a shadowy figure appears behind it pretending to be a certain figure of censor authority. Saying that the show will now be more PG than what is his known by its reputation. Mistress Of Death aka the Axe Lady of the band, then came out and behind the white sheet and starts chopping, slashing and killing the bossy bureaucrat as the sheet drop reveals Creeper (10).

Starting with Blood Magic (It's A Ritual) the aura, intensity and such passionate enthusiasm make it a must watch fromt he opening moments. Musically the band definitely bring and embrace the gothic element visually. The songs have either or both Master Gould and Mistress Greenwood singing as we enjoy new and old  tracks they fill their set with. They put on a theatrical show the stage filled with a throne of skulls, a guillotine, a jet black casket and of course a phone call from Garcia there Vampire Familiar. 

Between all the theatrics, giving us song's such as Parasite, Prey For The Night, More Than Death, all to an audience filled with passion and face paint, hanging on every word, when the band stops playing and the audience sing with the band. Behind their facepaint and black hearts Creeper seem completely touched by such support and devotion of the Cardiff crowd making for a thrilling start to their UK tour!