Transatlantic teen rockers, Geese, hunker down in Sebright’s basement for their first, but undoubtedly not their last, East London showcase.
A whirlwind of hype surrounded the release of their first single ‘Disco’ in June, with Geese being heralded as modern New York post-punk prodigies. This rapid assignment of status could be considered a double-edged sword: generating early criticism that may have subconscious influence whilst simultaneously fast tracking them to stardom with a trajectory likened to that of genre defining trailblazers, The Strokes.
Support comes from Honeyglaze, a band in a similar position considering their recent signing to the infamous Speedy Wunderground label. Anoushka Sokolow’s anxiety-fuelled lyrics tenderly ripple over her delicate synth & guitar melodies, permeating seamlessly through the perfectly balanced bass and drum elements. Each intricate track, which includes newest release ‘Creative Jealousy’, carries through the basement with a mesmerising effect, whilst changes in tempo are interjected with lyrical moments that are both humorous and refreshingly frank.
Geese arrive on stage to an unreleased track and immediately all members cut to concentration mode – hunching and headbanging over their respective instruments. On tracks such as ‘Low Era’ there is a sweaty urgency: the band exude a teenage earnestness which hints at the lengthy band practice sessions that must have been endured to get this far. ‘Fantasies/Survival’ stands out as the highlight of the set with a cacophony of energetic riffs, it’s impressively apparent that each member is pushing themselves to the brink of their talents.
Consequently, ‘Fantasies’ feels grandiose enough for you to easily imagine their rendition in an arena venue but on other tracks the translation to the live setting isn’t so seamlessly carried off. Midway through the set, as Geese move through ‘Projector’ and ‘Exploding House’ the lyrics aren’t quite loud or clear enough to do their recorded counterparts justice and retain interest. Additionally, on ‘First World Warrior’ some of the synth elements are omitted which leaves the set lacking atmospheric discordance that would add some appreciated variation to the rock heavy set.
The relentless and exuberant ‘Disco’ closes the set, and reminds you that despite their young age, Geese have already artfully mastered a perfect middle 8 – with that in mind it there’s a realisation that Geese merely need more practice and experience as a live band. As Geese continue to build on the well-deserved momentum they have already generated there’s no question that their name will be adorning festival bills and headline show posters across the world in next to no time.
photo credit: Nicole Osrin
