Situated in the Midlands, Nottingham is famous for its network of caves that sprawl under the heart of the city. Coves will not be landform familiar to its residents until global warming brings the seaside to the town – and upon taking the Bodega’s cosy stage on Tuesday, March 10th, it seemed apt that the psych-pop duo of Coves were relaxed in their adopted home for the evening.
Rumbling straight into the march of “Last Desire”, the landscape started to change and take shape, and it was instantly clear why two live members have joined, the meat of drum and bass add a sense of urgency and presence to the beat that carried the crowd as if marionette strings were attached unknowingly to everyone’s head. Rounding off an excellent triumvirate of songs was a new one aptly named “Stormy”, John Ridgard spangled more of his crystalline guitar crashes that can split your heart in two as easily as Beck Wood’s effortless swoons and sighs, all set against an encircling rhythm that trapped the crowd in a whirlwind of emotions.
There was no letting up as next was “Beatings”, a song that seamlessly melded all of your favourite sounds of the ‘60s. From the Ventures shimmery surf chords to the Dylan-esque harmonica interlude, Coves were like pagan druids resurrecting the era’s vast frontiers. Wood was high priestess, evoking Nico with her alluring yet menacing vocals, apart from the occasional flick of the wrist she latched a barrel of a gun stare to the back of the room. A shiver was sent down the spine, as it was hard not to be drawn into her artful beauty, yet it was tough to tell if the fixated crowd and I were about to become ritual sacrifice. Luckily though, there’s no bloodshed as the climax of a brilliant combination of what sounded like John Cale’s signature drone taking a bass line from Revolver on a bad trip took over. Spent, Wood yearned, “My heart stops beating for you,” one final time and the beat stopped cold, dead. It was the performance of the night.
The next few songs were a delightful trip, Coves getting their groove on as the affair got a little more festive through an eastern influenced detour; Wood was leading the crowd with bohemian twists and turns as we got to see a more fun loving side to the band, and there was even a moment when Wood and Ridgard cracked a beaming smile to one another. We soon got treated to another new song from Coves forthcoming EP (due April), which showed what they’ve learned from their time on tour with St. Vincent (QRO spotlight on), mashing a frenetic guitar lick a la Annie Clark with some western style bubble gum pop. Rounding off things was “No Ladder”, returning to the emotional depths that the sonorous Wood never seemed to get out of… well, as long as they continue to be as vivid and cavernous as this, you can keep your ladder.
-Luca Trivigno
