The Carlisle, Hastings – 29 Nov 2024
I’ve been frequenting the Carlisle in Hastings for many years. During that time it’s gone from being a dark, dingy pub with a somewhat selubrious reputation and sticky floors to somewhere that now hosts great bands on a regular basis and is pushing to become a very well respected Venue on the southeast gig circuit.
Tonight, two great bands are performing at the Carlisle, the first of which, Gallows Circus, are local boys from Kent. Gallows Circus have been around for a while but I feel they have only really started to shine since the release of their second EP back in 2020, the rather unimaginatively titled EPII. Having listened to their recorded tracks I was pleasantly surprised to find that the four-piece band were heavier in person than they are on record. They described themselves as a blues-stained heavy rock band, and I feel that is a pretty good description. Their songs have great choruses and big heavy grooves with the band’s drummer Jamie Briggs, bringing on the heavy, pounding out some monster rhythms, while singer Ian Day lays more soulful vocals on top.
Back downstairs Drones, another Kent band that I had heard of, but hadn’t been to see, were about to start in the ballroom. Drones were heavier than I expected them to be and the third female-fronted band of the day with Rosie delivering a powerful vocal. The band put on a great show all in make-up and all giving 100% to the performance, definitely worth another watch.
The Commoners have a very southern flavour to their classic rock sound, which sees them sitting comfortably alongside the wave of other American rock bands that have been finding very appreciative crowds in the UK over the last few years. The Commoners are great players and impressive performers who are clearly used to playing on larger stages around the world, so for the select few that were lucky enough to be at the Carlisle it was a real pleasure to be so up close witnessing such an intimate gig with such consummate professionals.
Stand-out tracks for me were ‘Devil Teasin’ Me’ from the 2024 album ‘Restless’ and also the title track of their 2022 album ‘Find A Better Way’, although there were in fact too many great moments to mention in a short review as this.
Chris Medhurst has a great voice, and with the stellar playing of Ross Hayes Citrullo on guitar and Miles Evans-Branagh on keys, the band really do a fantastic job of bringing the recorded material to life.
Special mention has to go out to Ben Spiller on bass who apart from being an outstandingly soulful bass player, also sported the best ‘tache of the evening!
After a full 80 minute set, it was time to journey home with the words from ‘Restless’ still bouncing around inside my head. Well done ‘See Ya There Promotions’, that was a great night of music, let’s have some more of those, please.
For more info about The Commoners and their current tour, visit thecommoners.ca or follow them on social media @thecommonersto
Gallow Circus will be playing at Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend in the new year, for more info visit gallowscircus.com or find them on social media @GallowsCircus