Sienna Bentley

“I’ve got cigs and a dream,” I texted Ray, mentally gearing myself up for a solo night out. Half a corona down and three outfit changes later (back into I was originally wearing, naturally), I was out the door.

On the agenda tonight, two gigs. First stop: Antony Szmierek at Rough Trade East, followed by Loud Mouth at The Lexington.

Although I was riding a high after watching Szmierek absolutely dominate the stage with his brother celebrating the release of his sophomore album, I did wonder if I would be able to keep the energy up for round two.

I wasn’t planning on writing a review initially, but I didn’t need to worry about energy: Loud Mouth brought it, and then some. So much so that I simply had to talk about it.

My immediate thoughts on the bus

I’ve got a bit of an insecurity when it comes to writing reviews, I feel like I can’t do it… but I also feel like I have to in this instance because I am currently on the bus home after watching Loud Mouth at iconic music venue The Lexington and it would actually be remiss of me not to say something about it. 

But alas, as I ascended the stairs at The Lexington, Guinness in hand, I was not given the chance to feel any type of way other than totally hyped. 

Frontman Otis Deane has this infectious energy that has all the makings of a popstar without the pretentiousness. Sometimes, when you watch a lead singer, you can’t help but think, what a knob. But then you think, well, of course, they have to be — it’s that confidence bordering on arrogance that carries the stage presence.

Turns out, they don’t have to be. 

As well as the band being technically great, all I could feel emanating from the stage was fun. All four members of the band were psyched to be there, clearly relishing every moment. 

With all that in mind, there wouldn’t have been a single dull moment anyway, but it was so refreshing the way they interacted with the crowd and commanded the stage.

During one track, Deane sat down on the edge and got the audience to sit down with him on the floor. It created a sense of intimacy and closeness in an otherwise high-energy and rowdy gig setting. That’s the first time I’ve sat down at an expressly standing-only gig. It was different, and it was fantastic.

And then they played their last song twice — but the second time, they invited the audience up on stage. Not to dance (well, that too), but to play it. Photographer turned bassist, friend turned drummer, revellers turned vocalists. And it was brilliant. 

Go and watch some live music!!!

I want to take this opportunity to express how important I think it is to go to live shows, even — perhaps especially — when you don’t know what to expect from them.

I could have very easily called it a night after the first gig; I was tired and alone. But thank God I didn’t because I had the time of my life — despite the fact that I was tired and alone. It didn’t matter. The gig had enough energy to make me feel like I’d had three espressos, and you’re never truly alone in a crowd full of people jumping about.

I had no idea what to expect and I’ve come away from it having discovered something new, and something worth writing home about.