Following their UK headline tour announcement earlier this summer last week I caught the return of one of the most prolific UK bands from the 2010’s.
BASEMENT.
Last week I saw them return for a headline show at The Forum, Kentish Town supported by the likes of Connecticut based Anxious, London Hardcore Dynamite and from The Bay in San Francisco came Midrift. When the tour was announced I’m sure it hit a spot with those definitely between the ages of 25-35 (including myself) as it was a band we all knew and loved in the scene back in the 2010’s.
I’m sure we were all eager to hear songs from each album but most likely their highly rated album from 2012 released on Run for Cover Records Colourmeinkindness.
After suffering a few days earlier and leading up to the day with an illness I can only describe as ‘shit, my son’s gone back to school and given me this bug’ my wife and I hopped on the train straight to Kentish Town. As we left the station, we started to walk up to the venue and saw each and every pub along Kentish Town Road and Highgate Road filled to the brim with fans who were clearly getting the beers in prior to entering an overpriced O2 venue (sorry O2 but…you know).
Ourselves however, arrived just as the first support act were walking on stage. Midrift.
Midrift are a three piece alternative indie band from The San Francisco Bay Area consisting of brothers Kai Neukermans & Manoa Neukermans and their childhood friend Gus Merkam.
The Forum was more than likely half full at this point when they started playing, however the front section was packed. Myself not knowing too much about these three lads, went in with open eyes and ears raring to hear what they could produce. Whilst standing there listening to track after track I can say for myself it was a pleasant vibe; you know when you’re just relaxing, chilling to music in your room or your own headspace? It felt like that. The shoegazey sound they had was the perfect mix to give you that feeling.
Throughout the set not a lot of moshing was happening but you knew everyone was enjoying themselves when you saw the slight nod of the head moving along to the beat. Towards the end of the set we were gifted with a drum solo by Kai Neukermans whilst the other two band members were setting up their switch over of instruments readying themselves for their final tracks and what a extremely sick drum solo it was. From that set alone you would not of been able to guess that these three lads were in their late teens early 20’s. You can tell they are going to have a great career in music as Midrift.
Following the opening act, more people were flooding into the downstairs section of the venue. From the shear number of green rugby shirts emblazened with ‘London Hardcore’ on the back, you knew it was time for Dynamite to hit the stage.
As they were setting up the stage you could fully see their banner from above clearly stating LONDON HARDCORE. Dynamite have been making moves within the UK hardcore scene over the past 12/24 months and have been elevated into the new wave of London/UK Hardcore.
Once the band had set up and as soon as that first note hit…CHAOS.
Vocalist Alex Money ripped up the stage from the very beginning and his presence was definitely known. The pit was open, two steppers everywhere and to those who have never been to a hardcore show let alone a Dynamite show before could now see it for themselves. This is why we love hardcore.
With each track came punk fuelled vocals, fast paced power chords and catchy bass lines. The set was stacked. From start to finish.
Those at the front of the show were most likely suprised by the energy given off by vocalist Alex when ‘Dynamite Stomp’ started and he was straight in their faces. Jumping over the barricade surfing over them. I could not have been more impressed by their set. Usually catching them in smaller venues it can be difficult to get the same energy in larger venues but Dynamite pulled it off.
Following a sweaty ensemble with Dynamite it was time for Anxious to hit the stage.
After the release of their latest album ‘BAMBI’ earlier this year, Anxious has been touring the world since whilst also making an appearance earlier this summer at 2000 Trees. Anxious were playing with a bit of fire in themselves showing a lot of stage presence and crowd interaction. One thing that I thought vocalist Grady Allen did well was including the crowd and getting them to sing the words.
Hearing ‘Little Green House’ songs like ‘In April’ & ‘Call From You’ got me jumping around singing along. It reminded me of the first time I caught these guys back in 2022. But every track got me going including the more recent ones in ‘Counting Sheep’ & ‘Bambi’s Theme’.
This was the second time my wife had seen Anxious. The first time being in a small cap venue at The Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes just after their first release ‘Little Green House’ in 2022. Seeing the difference a few years can make in music it made me proud to see them at the level they are now!
Finally, it was time for the headline act to brace the stage. The Forum, now packed out with everybody in attendance had everybody shuffling around eachother to get a good view of what was to come. You could see as the other banners were being brought down form the rafters and replaced with Basement’s stage wide banner that everybody was ready as they cheered the sound engineers on for testing equipment.
From their opening theme and the start of that very first riff, the venue jumped into oblivion. In a flash, everybody was bouncing around, moshing and most importantly singing along. As soon as Andrew came on stage and starting singing ‘Are You The One’ well, near enough everybody in the venue was singing along as well. In fact every track that night was sang along to by near enough the entire venue. It was astounding.
For me, hearing those tracks for the first time in a long while live was extraordinary. With further tracks including ‘Promise Everything’, ‘Aquasun’ & ‘Bad Apple’ coming early on in the set. Basement played banger after banger from their back catalogue. Then somewhere in the middle of all the madness they were creating they took a moment to speak to the crowd to introduce two new songs. In Andrews words “to keep it fresh” and “not to be that band that only plays their old stuff” or something along those lines. The new tracks brought a new but familiar sound which I’m sure we’ll hear recorded soon. A nice touch!
I remember one of the first tours I saw Basement on back in 2012 being first on for Your Demise. They were a band I was intrigued to see on that bill after researching and listening to their music. Back when the scout beanie and the old burgendy hoodie with a large letter ‘B’ on the back were a thing; I can’t remember what happened to my scout beanie from that time though, it might have got lost in a move at somepoint.
From that time they had just released their first studio album ‘I Wish I Could Stay Here’ on Run For Cover Records. So at The Forum when ‘Crickets Through Their Voice’ was played late on in the set it brought back a little nostalgia from my late teens. After this they announced that two songs were left and explained there will be no encore so this is your last chance!
I think I can speak for every fan of Basement when I say we knew what track we were waiting for as the finale. Their anthem ‘Covet’. As soon as Andrew sang those first words aloud “When I’mmmm”…a frenzy occured. Everybody sang every single word to that song and I’m sure the band were as stunned of the crowd as the crowd were of them. I don’t think there is anything else I can say about their set apart from incredible.
As we were funneling out of the venue I caught conversation with the guy next to me. He asked me if I enjoyed myself; as you normally do with small talk and I reciprocated that same question. He said to me that this was the first time he was able to see his favourite band. Up until now he was still in school and too young when they were around before their hiatus.
I for one hope this guy had the most amazing time and can now look back fondly on finally seeing his favourite band!
Little did I know back in 2012 when I randomly caught a couple of the guys outside Islington Academy and gave them the old ‘amazing set mate’ that this band would reach the heights they have or become a band I would love throughout the years and see again at such a large London venue. However, the main thing that got me from that show is that near enough every single person in that venue sang along with every song.
So, thank you for the show Basement.
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