Gloin

There’s an instant catapult on stage named Victoria Byers. Audience members are immediately drawn to the swaying bassist, with Gandalf the white flowing hair. Standing crouched over for half the set, Vic rampages like a 9ft albino yeti playing a distorted bass, as one eye fleetingly exposes through their parting white locks like Sauron peering deep into the crowd. Victoria dominates the space, on and off the stage, interacting and feeding off each band member.

Songs dip and flow throughout changing tempo and cadence. Noise rock bleeds into danceable post-punk, aided by a keyboard synthesiser and ever changing drumming pace controlled by Simon Kou.

Vocal duties flutter back and forth between guitarist, John Watson and Buyers. The duo’s energy is relentless and the resulting alternative sound is spectacular. They wouldn’t be a Canadian band without throwing in a little, “25% extra charge”, jab at the predominantly US crowd for playing.

• Gloin’s new album, All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry) is due out March 28.

@gigsnotpigsGloin #gloin #canada #live #gig #austin #hotelvegas #sxsw #texas #concert #guitar #rock #music♬ original sound - GigsNotPigs

Tear Dungeon

Mayhem. Dressed in all white outfits and donning black latex gimp masks, the metal five-piece unleash a Jonestown type set laced with cool aid punch.

Immediately the singer walked to an eager fan wearing a white tshirt and spat red liquid all over the front of his top. Branded with the band’s signature red look, the fan turned to the audience grinning with pride, knowing he had received what he had come for.

The ten foot monitors were next to be scaled, before lifting his mask slightly to snot rocket to the ground. Followed by prowling through the crowd eyeing a potential next red substance sacrificer to douse.

God help the stage-hand who tried his best to give enough cord length for the frontman’s pilgrimages around the venue. As well as, the stage monitors covered in copious black bags dripping with sweat, spit, & snot.

Every member now drenched from head to toe with red liquid, having each taken multiple turns to expel the same blood coloured juice throughout the set. The band looking like polar bears feasting on nursery of baby harp seals.

• Tear Dungeon’s latest EP Glory Hole is available on Bandcamp.