Mid-way through the UK leg of their mighty Autumn tour, Deadletter decided it was time to get down and dirty at a sold-out Bodega. And what better way than to bring the heat, the moodiness and the menace to Nottingham on the night of Halloween. What a treat! Alice Beard talks you through the evening…
The wait wasn’t a long one, but it was certainly enough to muster up a palpable aura of feverish intensity within such a modestly sized room. When it was finally time for the band to bless the stage, it became evident they’d just raided a fancy-dress box, three out of the six members opting to employ sexy cat costumes in full force. Don’t let that distract you though. From the first beats of The Snitching Hour, the stage was set for a night packed with marching proclamations and stone-cold bitter truths. They waste no time in getting started with this opening track. Lingering drums, jagged riffs and Ullyott’s bass sounding even more menacing live, this rapid builder was met with modest head bops of approval from the clusters of BBC Radio 6 dads who were interspersed throughout the crowd. Lawrence ripping through with the words “love thy neighbour” was all that was needed to get the evening well and truly underway.
"a night packed with marching proclamations and stone-cold bitter truths"
Next up Hero saw Deadletter as forthright as ever, Zac Lawrence utilising his ever-dazzling literary technique to serve up his cold acerbic wit for all to devour. As a frontman, Lawrence oozes with calm confidence, yet there’s an angst lying beneath. He possesses an intensity that belies the message of the band’s music. Seeing him up on stage was like watching a strange dance between David Byrne, Mark E Smith and John Cooper Clarke all at once. Not that I’m complaining.
The night pressed on, tracks like Weights and Degenerate Inanimate once again bringing forth stern basslines at the helm to really get the room shaking. What I love about Deadletter’s music is that they manage to strike a perfect balance between sounding both cohesive and reckless all the same. As a six piece its sometimes hard for a band to not get bogged down in details and overcomplicate the mix, but each member dances in perfect harmony with the others, creating tracks that are perfectly turbulent, jangly and ragged.
A shining reflection of this unity can be found in Madge’s Declaration. The guitar is minimal and controlled for the weight of the song, yet it still manages to rip through with jagged inflections when called upon. The bass is playful and equally so are the lyrics. Live, this was a track that demanded attention, compelling the crowd assist in ensuring the lyrics were heard loud and clear.
“I’ve got shoes but no soul, I’ve got a lovely pair of shoes but no soul”
Catchy and memorable, perfectly encapsulating the attitude of the band.
The satirical charm doesn’t end there though. Fit for Work saw band and audience alike at their very best. Everything about this record is slick and the same applied in their performance. The drums were tight, the bass deep and dirty and the sax beautifully sickly sweet. Poppy Richler’s tones were sublime, providing an ever-present crude demeanour which brought the filthy track to a whole different level. Every word spoken was intentional, every instrument working towards the infectious crescendo which sent the crowd swarming towards the stage. This intensity only heightened when the first notes of Binge tiptoed onstage. “Wants, needs, hopes, dreams, life’s a binge!” It was a glorious spectacle.
"Lawrence marvelled in the atmosphere, delivering a guttural punch with every scathing, sarky little lyric"
Closing the night a little too soon for my liking, they ripped through with Zeitgeist off their 2022 Heat! EP. This is a meaty track in itself, but it sounded even more muscular in person than on record. The crowd condensed just as the instruments did, the murky tones of distorted guitars packed tightly with deep sax swings and unrelenting drums. The atmosphere felt insidious- fitting for Halloween I suppose. There really was something in the air.
Deadletter were a delight to witness. Lawrence marvelled in the atmosphere, delivering a guttural punch with every scathing, sarky little lyric. Frenetic in every element of their pace and performance, the entire band provided a blistering spectacle. They’re audacious, equally naughty and clever. Get yourself down while you still can. It would be rude not to.
Alice Beard
Edited by Alice Beard
Images courtesy of Deadletter via Facebook, Video courtesy of Deadletter via Youtube
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