Lightning Bolt (live at The Underworld)

London
13 November 2019

Lightning Bolt, once hilariously described to me as “a really talented drummer and bass player showing off” are back in London following the release of their ridiculously enjoyable album Sonic Citadel. Playing two sold out nights in The Underworld, it’s extremely comforting to see upon entering that they’re back where they belong, playing on the floor in a sweaty rock club.

Their recent visits to London, with Om at The Electric Ballroom and a headlining slot at The Garage, saw them playing on a stage, of all places. I mean, really, a stage? They’re always fantastic live, but playing the floor is where they belong, and adds something else completely — it fits perfectly with their DIY image and the insanity of their fevered, live performances.

I arrive and The Underworld is already hot and sweaty. The Lightning Bolt backline (16-track mixer, battered speaker cabinets, PA speakers, rack-mounted effects units) is just about visible, parked up against the wall on the floor. I skulk around trying to find an appropriate viewing spot, having decided beforehand that I am not in the mood to be on the floor, as fun as it is. Eager fans of all ages and music tastes throng on the floor waiting impatiently, and there is a palpable sense of good-natured excitement in the room.

As 9pm approaches, I have a chuckle to myself looking at the crowd; it’s so large and dense that I begin to wonder if the two Brians (Gibson and Chippendale) will be able to even make it to their designated performance area. I’m also slightly concerned by the fact that there only appears to be one security person in the venue, and he’s only guarding the makeshift dressing room door. Do they even have security on the floor around their (no doubt expensive) equipment? Doesn’t look like it. And certainly no security to push the slam-dancing fans backward should they get too close.

Gibson and Chippendale appear (the former carrying his bass over his shoulder) and proceed to take around five minutes to squeeze through the crowd, and another five to get “set up”. This means doing a “sound check” of sorts and allowing Chippendale time to put on that now-familiar home-made devilish mask of his, complete with in-built microphone. This alone receives a hugely approving roar from the crowd, who are now at breaking point, jostling around on the floor waiting for the chaos to begin.

And begin it does, an onslaught of manic drumming and insane noise, and like all Lightning Bolt live performances it’s basically unclassifiable, such is the mishmash of differing styles. What’s most apparent though is that as aggressive and noisy the music is, there is an undeniable feeling of goodwill in the room as the kids and grown-ups on the floor slam into each other in a good-natured way that differs massively from most other aggressive types of mosh pit.

The breaks in between songs allow all in the room a breather, and it’s clear that the band — just about noticeable through the crowd — are enjoying themselves massively. A ball is launched into the crowd and continues bouncing around, a crowd-surfer manages two complete laps of the room (twice) and Chippendale manically drums while singing / screaming the almost child-like vocal melodies of their songs into his mask. Alongside this is horrendously talented bass player Gibson, wrenching the most insane sounds out of his setup as a member of the crowd holds up his speaker stacks to stop them collapsing on the dancing masses.

An hour later and it’s all over, Chippendale unable to get out of the crowd, and choosing instead to happily chat to the sweaty bodies surrounding him. Gibson makes it up to the stage, and is on his way to the dressing room when he is stopped by a young girl in a dress who simply gives him a long hug. It’s a lovely sentiment, and makes me think that when I first started listening to Lightning Bolt it was all about abrasive noise and being almost unlistenable; when in fact it’s really just about having fun and dancing around manically to some tremendously enjoyable (and obviously very loud) music.

My ears have almost recovered.

-Stuart Low-