LIVE REVIEW: RMXS, Picnic, The 901s @ Pop Recs, Sunderland (01.04.16)

Image: RMXS

April Fool’s Day saw indie music fans flocking to the welcoming drizzle of Sunderland’s Stockton Road. The primary stimulus? A rare collaboration from two of the city’s finest musical institutions – that is, Pop Recs and The Bunker. Hosted in the intimately boozy glow of the former, the latter had more than succeeded in assembling a carefully crafted bill of three wildly oscillating acts.

First to face the amicable crowd were newcomers The 901s, who proceeded to whip up a storm of Camden-coated indie rock. Next up, fresh from a brief bout of This Morning stardom, came Picnic: armed with pocketfuls of talent and charisma to spare, they shook the homely venue with their unique wit and intricate, feel-good melodies.

Last came the thundering clamour of alternative rockers RMXS, solidifying The Bunker’s penchant for wildly diverse acts, regaling the audience with a set riddled with frenzied vocals and masterful drum work.

All in all, the evening proved a wholly magnificent clash of two local forces: one that is sure to reveal more local gems in the near future.