As December Falls entered my life by a means that I would file in the “old school” file.
A targeted social media post offering me a free signed CD if I clicked a link. If I actually owned a CD player nowadays, I’d have probably taken them up on the offer. Yeah, I could just stream the music… but we like tangible in this house. Also, the music video attached to the promoted post showed some promise and maybe having a signed CD would be a flex in the near future. Now playing the impressively large venue, The Garage, we’re here to see if we missed an investment in that shiny disc.
First up is Lizzy Farrell. Lizzy comes from the same musical tribe as the likes of Cody Frost and Bonnie. Strong female-fronted pop rock with a heavier edge and usually no bass player within a million miles. As with this sub genre, there’s backing tracks and live guitar and drums. This might sound cynical but what Lizzie does, she does well. Think of an angry Paramore at an emo club night. A great opener for a night like this.
Will she ever fill bigger rooms as a headliner? Maybe. The crowd seems to react better to the poppier numbers as the heavy ones don’t travel well without a full band. She just needs to find that exact spot on the spectrum to settle. Splitting the crowd in half and jumping the barrier was a nice touch, if it didn’t seem to make a few at the back seem awkward. But that’s their problem.
Between sets we’re not only treated to Step’s ‘5,6,7,8…’ complete with light show… but one kid in the crowd had a t-shirt complete with LED strips all over it. I fully support this dress code and encourage it.
The main support, Dream State, are a heavy affair. This band prove that girls fronting heavy bands can be the real thing and not just playing at it. Frontwoman Jessie is breaking out the melodic parts and, by the power of Greyskull, she’s bringing us the growls and dirty lows. The boys don’t shy away from windmilling and thrashing about on the stage and there’s even singing along mid set.
This is definitely a band I can see on bigger stages soon. They just need to find shows and crowds that are as heavy as they are. When Dream State get down they get heavy. Following on from the example led by Lizzie, Jessie ends up in the crowd too which gives the crowd a bit of excited optimism that the headliners might follow suit.
The room isn’t sold out by the time the headliners make the stage, but it is comfortably full. The noise would have you thinking it’s been oversold. As December Falls bursts into some very refreshing pop punk with impressive stage presence.
Bethany Curtis is clearly glad to see the crowd as she works the stage with a grin on her face. Guitarists Ande and Will often on risers at the front of the stage, just as happy to see us. No one is happier than this crowd, however. The deafening noise from the fans continues into the set and doesn’t relent.
Could this gig be done at a smaller venue? Probably. Hot Milk showed us how selling out a smaller room can make for a better show than having gaps in a larger room. It’s like the energy transfers through conduction and I’d personally pay more for that experience.
Did As December Falls put on a performance unworthy of a big room? Absolutely not… this was a band that could be on most stages with their head held high. It was dynamic and polished. ADF know the band they are and don’t try to be anything else and that’s a great thing. Should I have got that free CD? Probably.
Photos by Catching Light Photography
Catching Light Photography
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