Mother Vulture / Corporation / Sheffield
I was really looking forward to tonight’s show at Corporation in Sheffield. Over the last few days, meeting friends at shows, they’ve enquired what I’ve got coming up. When I mention Mother Vulture, every single one has said – you’ll have a brilliant night. They are so much fun live, and packed with energy.
So here we are in the small upstairs room at Corporation for the “Cartoon Violence” album launch tour show from Mother Vulture.
First up in support are Newcastle-upon-Tyne rockers Ten Eighty Trees who are Nathan Newton (vocals & guitar), Lewis Glaholm (bass) and Michael Mather (drums). The trio step out dressed in black t-shirts and light turquoise blue dungerees. It felt like the weirdest episode of Raindow ever….
Having been together for only about three years, Ten Eighty Trees have built a reputation for their infectious alternative rock anthems and enthralling live shows. With influences as wide ranging as Biffy Clyro, Weezer, Foo Fighters and Dinosaur Pile-Up, their sound is a wonderful heavy, big rock riffs packed, grunge attitude, and hard-hitting energy.
I really didn’t know what to expect, but they sounded fantastic with a mix of fuzzy guitars packed with catchy hooks. As the set developed, Nathan grew and grew in stature and the energy just seemed to boil up and spill out, as he and Lewis started moving franticlly round the small stage, Nathan dropping to his knees raising his guitar hgh in classic rock pose.
The energy was infectious and the Sheffield crowd were loving it, and their unique style of alt-rock. They saved perhaps the best to last, signing off with a raucous rendition of Something Feral that had everyone moving.
By the end it was like watching Geoffrey, George and Bungle on speed, as they threw themselves around (or Rod, Jane and Freddie - remember them ?!).
A wonderful high energy, pulsating set from a band that deserve a far wider audience.
Setlist
Bittersweet Coming Of Age
Don't Quit
Bare Minimum
The Kick
The Incubator
Brand New Skin
You Wear Me Down
Broken (Goodbye)
Something Feral
A quick change round and its time for tonights headliners to hit the stage – Mther Vulture. Yet another brilliant new band emerging from the Bristol scene, Mother Vulture are a four-piece blues-punk band known for their high-energy, chaotic live shows. The band are Georgi Valentine (vocals), Brodie Maguire (guitar), Chris Simpson (bass), and Matt West (drums).
They released their debut album “Mother Knows Best” in 2022 and recently followed it up with their latest release “Cartoon Violence”.
Right from the off, it’s clear that Mother Vulture and something special. Georgi delivers an impressive and commanding performance as the vocalist and frontman of the band, with an impressive vocal range. And either side of Georgi, the mayhem reigns. Chris on bass and Brodie on guitar are like Tasmanian devils, non-stop bundles of energy, never still for a moment. There’s something about their performance that reminds me of that incredible live vitality of early IDLES (“Brutalism”) in its raw, almost visceral nature. Brodie is jumping and launching himself with his foot off the wall as he delivers some impressive heavy and fuzzy riffs whilst Chris pounds out some deep dirty bass tones that make the walls thump along to the beat.
The audible and visual assault is breathtaking, there’s elements of hardcore, punk, metalcore and more in their performance, and they never miss a beat.
Almost all of the new album is performed, with perhaps just Double Down missing, with Mr Jones, Rabbit Hole, Fame or Shame added in from “Mother Knows Best”. The new album material, transfers effortlessly to the live stage and compliments the earlier material so well.
Georgi is so at ease, talking to the crowd between songs and laughing throughout, it’s a joy to behold, and the time just flies by. The performance is high octane throughout and the Sheffield crowd are lapping it all up. They end the set with Go Big or Go Home a single from 2023, a more anthemic ending you could not wish for. The bass and guitar spew out a heavy punk-tinged melody, whilst Georgi adds an almost ‘80’s rock vocal over the top. Its loud, brash and addictive.
The recommendations weren’t wrong. Mother Vulture and definitely one to watch with a big future ahead of them.
Setlist
Mike Check
Mr. Jones
Sufferin' Succotash!
Rabbit Hole
Bedbugs
Slow Down
Honey
Treadmill
Knuckles
Fame or Shame / La Matadora
Mountain Of Youth
The Masquerade
Phoenix
Go Big or Go Home
