There’s no support band tonight which throws many attendees into a hex. There are seasoned gig goers present who are used to an opening act warming things up and getting the crowd in the groove. It’s an anathema to some, but when you consider this is a HENGE concert it makes perfect sense. There’s no one in the universe quite like this intergalactic crew and it’s hard to think of another band who would compliment their unique crossover of electronica and rock (“Cosmic Dross”), and that’s why this evening is solely HENGE.
It means that there’s a fair amount of tension being built as the clock slowly ticks towards showtime, the minutes being stretched and elongated as if they are being pulled through a wormhole in space. And that’s exactly how the band appear, a deafening, ear-splitting roar of thunder fills the venue like a crack in the space/time continuum and then HENGE appear in the height of alien fashion and launch into opening salvo ‘Goldilocks’. With drummer Nom and bassist Goo hidden behind masks and vocalist Zpor beneath a hat fashioned from a huge lightbulb (he’s full of good ideas) HENGE make an arresting spectacle. Then, when you factor in the otherworldly sounds of ‘Humans’ and ‘Wanderlust’, it’s easy to believe that HENGE really are extraterrestrials, as opposed to a quartet from Manchester (which, I suppose, is on a kind of different planet).
There’s undoubtedly an experimental edge to HENGE’s sound, yet what sets them apart from their peers is a listenable quality. They are wise enough to wrap their musical forays up in some of the most sublime melodies and then place them into a frame that’s of a solid structure. As such, the likes of ‘Get A Wriggle On’ are both mind-blowing and danceable and have all but the frail and infirm shaking their stuff. As the band prepare to depart this dimension and travel to worlds unknown there’s time for one last song, and as our planet continues to be plagued by famine and conflict final track ‘Demilitarise’ proves to be the perfect tonic. With keyboardist Sol holding up cue cards for the audience to sing along with, ‘Demilitarise’ sends the good vibes radiating throughout the Craufurd Arms (and beyond) which is surely the only way to go.
As many of HENGE’s peers start to shuffle off to the great gig in the sky, there’s going to be a huge chasm left in music and HENGE could be the band to fill it, so let’s hope they visit Earth more often.
Set List:
- Goldilocks
- Humans
- Wanderlust
- DNA
- Slingshot
- Mushroom One
- Descending
- Welcome To Voltus-B
- Exo
- New Planet
- Get A Wriggle On
- Ascending
- Altered State
- Demilitarise
