Nothing More Are Going To Take Over!
In was October 2014, and it was a Sunday afternoon, when I'd decided to go see The Pretty Reckless live at Rock City, just 26 hours later. That spontaneous, half-hearted decision turned out to be one of the best I'd made, because little did I know I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people in the UK to hear an incredible Hard Rock/Metal band from Texas called Nothing More.
The band's singer, Jonny Hawkins, is one of my favourite lead vocalists to date; an utterly interesting and intelligent man who looks stereotypically 'proper' and 'respectable' during the day. However, when the lights go down and the first notes of "Christ Copyright" resonate throughout the room, an entirely different man takes centre stage. Fierce, focused, topless (he's ripped by the way) and ready to lose himself in another incredible night, Jonny is a raucous beast on stage, and this side of him wastes no time coming to life.
Nothing More's Birmingham show was the first chance I've had to catch a full set; an opportunity which I was so determined to seize that I would've been there even if I was nothing more than a pair of ears - definitely the right decision. Now to the point - Nothing More sound totally flawless live; it's like listening to a refined version of the record that is simultaneously more raw, and everything is significantly louder.
"Christ Copyright" opens the set; one of the songs during which Hawkins plays a second set of drums at the front of the stage - a fire burning in his eyes as he does - closely followed by "Mr. MTV." Both tracks can be found on the band's self-titled 2014 album; 2 of many songs which make up a spectacular work of art.
As flawless as the band may be live, an interesting observation can be made during intermissions - where Jonny is sometimes at a loss at what to say - a refreshing departure from the sea of bands who plan every single word they're going to say. This humbling difference makes the Nothing More shows feel much more real - another addition to the list of reasons that Nothing More are worth your time.
As I write this, I'm torn between wanting the world to know about this band's incredible live show and not wanting to spoil the surprise for those who have yet to experience it; the two highlights occur during the second half of the set, and they both take the form of instrumental solos which incorporate the entire band. The first is a 3-man technical bass solo, featuring a spinning, purpose-built stand for the bass to sit upon in the air (aptly named the 'bassinator' by a member of the crowd), and the other is a highly synchronised, whole-band drum solo during "Salem (Burn The Witch)", with Dan (bass) and Mark (guitar) each swapping out their instruments for a drum.
Huge single "This Is The Time (Ballast)" closes out this Saturday night set, leaving everyone completely satisfied. Hawkins' last words "we'll be back next year with a new record" gave everyone something to stay excited about, and quite frankly, if that new record is anything like 2014's self-titled album, Nothing More will take over the world, and deservedly so.
Photo: jodiphotography.co.uk
COMMENTS
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So good!
