Bdrmm, Yes Basement, 24th June 2021

I’m at a gig. A proper gig. In a basement. With no masks. No chairs. No distancing. I feel a bit weird. This has been a long time. Socially distanced gigs really don’t count. They’re like driving at the speed limit or getting a draw in a derby match, it’s okay but you know it could be better. So expectations are high. Partly because this is Yes’ basement, one of the best small venues in Manchester and the band are Bdrmm, who I’ve become slightly obsessed with over lockdown. The 4 piece from Hull, peddle the sort of 80s goth fused with melodic 90s grunge that pushes all my buttons and within seconds of the lights going out expectations are met as swirling guitars, throbbing bass and motorik drums bounce around the walls and penetrate my soul. There’s some soft melodies at the core, but it’s when they click into heavy groove reminiscent of GYBE or Mogwai that the place lights up. There’s a lot of people to light up too, it’s sold out and it is packed! I’m thankful for the space at the front under the aircon and a sea of black balloons. This is a party you see, the first proper gig etc. I don’t know how many gigs they played before the world went batshit, but it might not be many. They’re on the debut album, but live they’re ridiculously tight, giving us a solid hour of blissful shoegazey psychedelic goth tinged alt rock. Listen to the album, it’s great. They’re great. Absolute heaven