Black Peaks @ The Owl Sanctuary

In The Owl Sanctuary, a pub saved by the strength and will of a community, we watched a big band play a small show. Black Peaks had just played Download. They’d been featured on Radio 1. They were currently playing the smallest room at the Owl. It was hot. The hottest gig the band had ever played they said, but it didn’t stop the crowd from throwing themselves around. Supporting them were fellow Brightonians Yonaka, a band that took me a whole set to work out what they were (as a music reviewer I have to label people, it’s my job). Pop post-punk was the closest I could get. Theresa Jarvis’  vocals were reminiscent of Siouxsie (wailing Siouxsie, not clipped punk Siouxsie, although my fella reckoned she was more like Patti Smith) with an energetic and occasionally frenetic stage presence, Yonaka captivated the crowd. I stood agape for most of the set.

I’d read that Black Peaks were like Deftones, which was a misleading comparison. They had melodic bits and shouty bits – Deftones they were not. Intelligent, well put together melodic post-hardcore they most definitely were. They also rocked the wee venue so hard that the whole backline fell off the stage, cutting the vocals and guitar mid-song. Instead of getting pissed off, the singer thanked the crowd for being so enthusiastic. The set felt like it was over too quickly as they slammed through their only album, with the audience shouting along and frontman Will Gardner joining them in the pit. As the set crashed to an end, sweat ran down the walls and Gardner escaped to the merch stand for some well-deserved air. Blinding gig in an intimate local venue.