Narc. Magazine Online
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Matthew McDonnell enjoys a night of woozy, captivating indie and indie swagger
The Cumberland Arms has always been a special venue for me (despite those stairs), I did my first review for NARC. there almost 2 years ago and it’s remained a great spot for emerging artists to showcase their talent, tonight was no exception.
First on was Sarah Johnsone, a tight alt. rock group with a few dashes of punk and trip-hop thrown in for good measure. Sarah herself has a seriously powerful voice, adding a legitimacy and a swagger to these songs that a weaker singer would struggle to replicate. Alongside a full band her voice really shines, from the crooning on a song like Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl, to the snarl on Strange Concoction, this is a band with real dynamics and talent.
On next was Charlie Floyd. He’s played under various different guises throughout the years and his brand of nostalgic indie songs are as timeless as ever. Tonight he was on top form, tearing through Do It Again and Calls with a natural charisma and showmanship we’ve come to expect from such a mainstay of the alternative scene.
Robyn Banks closed the show with a mesmerising collection of woozy and captivating indie songs, drawing us in with a hushed singing voice and fluttering vibrato. Mother’s Eyes opens with a fuzzed out bass riff overlaid with warm interweaving guitar lines, adding a rich and blissful quality to a lyrically dark song. Cut A Rug has a similarly relaxed feel but the subtle groove on this song gives it a pleasing, almost hypnotic quality. In between these songs, Robyn interacts with the crowd and gives us some insight onto how these songs come about. Gift of the Gab, for example, all stemmed from an interaction with a man online in response to a cover song she had posted. Another song was for her girlfriend, who had helped her organise the event. There is tangible vulnerability to Robyn Banks’ music that sets her apart from the rest. To see the scene band together and sell out the show really did feel like getting to be part of something special.
