"A strong start that they carried through"

by Robyn Lees, Writer & Editor

  Walking in to The Dublin Castle just off Camden high street, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect; a fairly small venue in the back room of a pub doesn't tend to emit the best of sounds. However, from the beginning of their set, StubbleMelt harmonised well and had quite a strong start that they carried through. Managing to create a great atmosphere that seemed like it should have been heard by more people than were actually present, they do sound like they should have been playing a bigger venue. Whether this was due to the volume of their set, their ability or a combination of the two, it worked. There was just something about being in such a small venue with such a big-sounding band that completed the evening.

The drumming was quite rhythmic and didn't dominate the other components as it sometimes can which was a great achievement. Everything went well together be it the strong guitar and bass work, the confident vocals or the facial expressions pulled which were quite hilarious. I would say that the vocals could have been a touch louder at times as they seemed to blend in to the music a little too much and the feedback that was present at times was a little annoying, although this was due to the guy who did the sound check.

All in all, I would say that when they are performing live, StubbleMelt are pretty much on par with their recorded material which can be quite rare. I am looking forward to seeing these guys again.

You can find out more about StubbleMelt on their Official website at www.stubblemelt.com.