Krooked Tongue and Drab

Slipping on to the Rough Trade stage Hi-energy Bristolian trio Krooked Tongue take the evening off on a tangent very much of their own furrowing.

Kicking off with their summer single ‘When The Beaches Bleed,’ a sonic, searing astral homage to the next level of big wave surfing. The viscous cosmic groove doesn’t fear failure and encourages a following in its footsteps. Lead singer and bassist Oli Rainsford eagerly greets the packed Rough Trade “Good evening Bristol, how the fuck are you doing?”

Alloying a credence of the likes of The Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Muse ‘I Know A Place’ tears the place apart with the packed venue loudly announcing their approval. A total contrast to what went before but an equivalent kinetic surges.

Latest single the melancholic ‘Lupines’ broodingly slots in amongst the four tracks of this year’s debut EP ‘No Vacancy Hotel.’ From the delicious, understated maelstrom of the title track lifted from the aforementioned EP via the slithering, scuttling charms of the frenetic ‘Swarm’ this Bristolian trio impress the RT crowd throughout.With a thundering, steamrollering bass ‘Freaky Love’ prowls and stalks, “The power turns me on” sings Oli whilst guitarist Dan Smith whittles notes with laser precision from his fret and, behind them, drummer Harry Pritchard, with a rock-crushing strength, punches holes in the wall, through to the record store next door.

Ever wondered what a psychedelic Muse would sound like? Then the set-closing vital essence feeding fuzz of ‘Vampyre’ comes the closest yet to providing that answer. With their shimmering vibrancy mark Krooked Tongue as one to watch in ’23.

Darren McVeigh, Metal Planet