HEYMOONSHAKER | LIVE REVIEW
The Moon, Cardiff, Wed 18 Dec
Having first seen Heymoonshaker a couple of years ago at Green Man Festival I was more than excited to see the ‘beatbox-blues’ duo again in Cardiff, upon the release of their EP Shakerism. The venue was intimate this time, making for a very different atmosphere that I wasn’t sure would work.
The show kicked off with Schoolboy’s Death Trio, a bizarre combination of punk rap poetry, expressive saxophone and drums. Although the musicians showed real talent, the vocals and lyrics detracted from their sound and I soon found myself longing for the headlining act to begin (as quickly as possible).
Luckily as soon as Andy Balcon and Dave Crowe hit the stage the atmosphere became electric. The pair wowed and warmed up the crowd from the very first song; Balcon’s distinct woody blues vocals combined with Crowe’s astounding beats make for something special and unique that you don’t see from anyone else. They evidently work hard for their art too, as they strained, sweated and rocked their way through the show, much to the delight of the diverse crowd.
Both Crowe and Balcon gave a solo performance to really show off their skill. Crowe’s ability in particular to connect with the crowd made their performance what it was, as he went from making jokes mid-song to tackling the meaning of life (and receiving a surprisingly warm response). My only gripe was that all their songs seemed to merge into one. Although impressive, catchy they ain’t and that’s why they are so much better onstage where they can truly show off.
Regardless of this, the pair were very personable both on and off stage as they enjoyed a few drinks with the adoring crowd after the show. I would recommend seeing the pair to any blues and/or beats fans, and I look forward to seeing them perform in front of a bigger crowd at a few festivals this summer.
words DAISY JORDAN
photo STEPHANIE DURBIC