Pip Blom
From the ashes of the solo project of 22-year-old Dutch Pip Blom rises a four-piece so in tune their head-banging is synchronised. In between jokes about the football (Amsterdam team Ajax v Spurs apparently) and cute chats about the songs, Pip Blom has the Waterfront Studio ringing with admiration.
Opening the show is the Norwich-based band The Glitter Shop. Now, before I say anything, I’m not here to disenhearten any young band. I know it’s difficult to get on stage and play in front of even one person, let alone a hundred--and I certainly couldn’t do it. It’s why I write the reviews, not the songs. But I can’t ignore that this set just is not great--it feels like each member of the group is trying to make so much noise that the other instruments are drowned. The drummer stands out to me--but amongst the screeching of the neighbouring guitars, it is difficult to make anything out. It’s immediately evident to me, though, that this isn’t an end-all for the band. There is definite talent and passion there. It just needs to be refined, practised, and tried again. There most certainly is hope, and the possibility of improvement.
Second on stage is Hex Friends, who announce they’ve got an EP out soon. Hex Friends, like The Glitter Shop, are also based in Norwich--one thing promoter ‘Everything Is Fine’ needs to be commended heavily for is keeping it local. When national tours are supported by local musicians to each venue, it makes the show so much more special. Hex Friends have it a bit more together than The Glitter Shop do, but I think that’s because they might be a couple of years older. Their sound is more classic pop-punk, which isn’t necessarily my genre at all, but they do a great job of capturing the audience’s attention, and their songs are strong and loud.
After a good ol’ warming up, Pip Blom take to the stage at 9.30. I’m struck by how late this is, usually bands come on at 9, but it’s just because we had two support bands this evening. Pip opens by telling the story of when she was last in Norwich, exclaiming it was so good that every time she is in the country she “has to come back”. Heartwarming. The band kick off the performance without any flaws, and they carry on to do so. By nature of being an indie singer-songwriter band, there’s possibility of being quite samey, but somehow during this show it doesn’t seem to matter. As I said at the start of this review, the band are streamlined right down to their head bops--and it shows how important a good onstage chemistry is to the music. There is brilliant energy, great hooks, and outstanding performance quality. I’m struck by how perfect Pip’s fringe is--as a fellow fringe-bearer, I’m always looking to improve the appearance of mine; maybe I should ask Pip for some advice. Maybe it’s why her music is so good. Maybe it’s where she keeps all of her songwriting secrets. Pip’s voice is so penetrating, so effective, so winding--it’s certainly the magic that enchants their music.
The most memorable song from the band is saved until last, which is fair enough, ‘Pussycat’, from the most recent EP, Paycheck. It ends the show on such a high, and fills me with a sense of energy and adrenaline, so that I just have to go to the pub after the gig has finished because I can’t go to sleep quite yet.
I’d never seen Pip Blom live before, and I was reasonably excited--their music has been increasing in quality steadily since Pip started solo in 2016--but this show proved how special chemistry between bandmates really is.
