SPANGLED – LIVE REVIEW – LVLS – LONDON – 05/12/2024

Offering a bit of Hackney Wick to your significant other on a Thursday night might not always be welcomed with open arms. But tell them that four lads from Manchester are in town and are well up for it, and they might just be a little more obliging.

Last week Spangled wangled a headlining slot down at LVLS – the new Hackney Wick venue that’s so new they haven’t even got a door on the dressing room yet. But if you can cast your eyes from the sordid shenanigans going on inside the dressing room, to a couple of feet to the left, you’ll find the stage. (You can tell it’s a stage because it’s a good… ooh 6 inches higher than the rest of the floor and there’s a drum kit and some amps on it).

First up were Away Fans. Unlike tonight’s headliners and judging by their accents, they hadn’t travelled too far. This four piece London band describe themselves as ‘experimental punk’. I’d say their experimenting days are over. They knocked out a tight little set and gave a cowbell a damn good seeing to. (For the benefit of any vegans or vegetarians reading this, no cows were present or harmed during this onslaught).

Away Fans have got a single out now, “Explorer” and a couple of live dates coming up – including one darn The Victoria in Dalston this Sunday 15th. Certainly worth a look and they might even let you have a go on their cowbell.

A quick dash upstairs to grab another pint – (they haven’t finished the bar yet downstairs either) and then we’re back down to catch the second support slot Golden Bloom.

Golden Bloom took to the stage dressed head to toe in black. But any ‘Oh my Goth’ horrors were quickly swept aside as this feisty 3-piece band tore into an energetic punk-fuelled set. Any band that keeps breaking guitar strings gets my vote. Reminded me of 3 Colours Red. They were a great band and so are these. I need to see them again. Definitely.

And then Spangled take to the stage. All six inches of it.

When you go and see Spangled, (I say WHEN you go, because I really recommend you do) make sure you take a deep breath when they walk on stage. You’re in for one hell of a ride.

Spangled are probably one of the most energetic bands out there and leading the charge is front man Ben, with his long flowing curls he’s like a young Leo Sayer that’s been at the Cat Nip. Jamie takes up guitar duties with aplomb and keeping it altogether at the back you have Niall on Bass and (relative newbie) Joe on drums.

From the start you can tell all four of them are loving it. Hard to believe but they’re probably having a better time than anybody else in here tonight. And their energy is infectious – a look around the room confirms it. Everyone is grinning from ear to ear.

And then there’s the small matter of the music. These guys have been working hard this year. I caught them about a year ago supporting The View and they’ve come on leaps and bounds. (In Ben’s case, quite literally). Those long hard miles at festivals across the UK have paid dividends. They are tighter than ever, and their sound has grown accordingly.

From the melancholic Good Life Better to the crowd bursting energy of Little Tom to the anthemic swirling sound of That Farm in Dunham, Spangled will have you by the throat and by the heart.

I must admit that tonight wasn’t the most packed venue I’ve been in but that didn’t stop Spangled. These guys put on a show far more deserving than an unfinished venue in Hackney Wick. When they are next in town you really should go and see them – and your partner will be up for it too.