GoGo Penguin, New Century Hall. 23rd May 2023

Tonight’s venue is one I’ve been itching to get to for months since it reopened late last year. There’s a rich musical history to New Century Hall and now refurbished and reopened it’s genuinely exciting to walk in its doors. I’m also excited by tonight’s band. GoGo Penguin are local boys who play sumptuous electronica fused jazz. They remind me a bit of the much missed E.S.T. and they fit wonderfully in this space. New Century feels like a perfect blend between old and new and the same goes for this band. Something about the purity of a trio on piano, bass and drums that makes it feel honest whilst the rhythms are undeniably modern. There’s also something inherently cool about a bloke rocking out with an amplified double bass. They’re incredibly tight as you might imagine for a jazz tinged trio and it’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of watching a drummer like Jon Scott. He’s stunning, not only in the complex moments, but the simple too, although there’s often a lot going on even when it sounds like there isn’t. He’s wearing an Aphex Twin shirt, which maybe goes some way to illustrating how fancy some of his drumming gets. I’ll confess I can’t identify many songs, but I get some help from Nick on bass introducing ‘Bardo’ after thanking us for coming to listen. It’s cinematic stuff, with the spot lights cutting up the stage before the strobes trigger. My eyes are torn between the drums and bass, but let’s not forget the piano. After all Chris is picking up all the melody. Sometimes with the piano with his left hand and and keyboards with his right on the sublime ‘Glimmerings’. ‘We May Not Stay’ sees the stage bathed in blue gobo lights. The tempos building and folding over one another. I like all their albums, but this new one really is a cracker. The crowd is very sedate and respectful, meaning I’m able to indulge and close my eyes. Letting the coloured lights dance over my eyelids and the music seap into my ears. I love doing this, but it wouldn’t have been safe at The Chats the other night. ‘Friday Film Special’ sees Nick swap the double for a bass guitar as things start out smooth with the piano controlling the pace. It’s lighter on the jazz touches but it’s really beautiful and packs a punch as it builds. They sound a bit darker and that’s never a bad thing for me. It helps that the sound in here is pretty decent too. I’m stood right at the front so my ears are taking a hammering but the mix is perfect and they make great use of it. They really do sound staggeringly good together, especially on stuff like ‘Brake’. It’s hard not to marvel at the talent. ‘Saturnine’ from the latest album is a bit more playful and after Nick has dazzled with his solos earlier, its Chris’ turn. Not that these are solos as much as passages. It breaks down like a pop song and heads are bobbing and people dancing. A little. Nick even taking a bow to his bass as things finish a little Sigur Ros. A trip to the bar informs me that the sound at the back isn’t quite as good, which is worth noting for my next visit, but this really is a lovely room for live music and I’m glad I’ll be back for quite a few more gigs this year. It’s the sort of gig that calms the mind and excites the soul and as they reach the finale, bringing out the fan favourite big hitters, I’m totally swept up and away. Lots of people are still stock still, in chin striking mode, but screw that, this is too good not to get lost in the moment. When they lock in and go for it, it’s quite a ride, bringing whoops and yells from the die hards down the front. I’m not sure what I was expecting for my first Gogo Penguin gig going in, but this band and venue vastly exceeded expectations. Stunning.