LIVE: Dearly Beloved @ The Scala, 27.05.15

It’s the final date of their UK tour with Swervedriver and Toronto band, Dearly Beloved, are ready to go out with a bang.

As the sound of whirring reverb welcomes the band onto the stage, my excitement swells as I know I’m in for a treat, having witnessed the seething punk-rock of Dearly Beloved last year at The Windmill in Brixton. We are immediately thrown headfirst into their ferocious, titillating set, as a few of the early arrivals of dedicated Swervedriver fans are rather taken aback by this sudden blast of energy that’s relentlessly just hit The Scala.

With Rob Higgins and Niva Chow taking centre stage, the whole of Dearly Beloved prove themselves to be the perfect live collective, each one of them oozing a penetrating, ruthless attitude that’s impossible to ignore. As furious riffs flow, guitarists catapult across the stage and pummelling beats are thrashed out of the drum-kit with frantic buoyancy.

As Higgins delivers some of the most impressive, frenzied bass lines I’ve ever heard, Chow’s feisty charisma adds a touch of magic to this riotous set. Whether she’s accompanying Higgins’ angst-driven lyrics, ferociously shaking her tambourine, shooting fluorescent bubbles out of a gun or casting her mystical, punk-rock spells with the electrical sound-waves of a Theremin, her unique passion is the final, vital ingredient to the raucous delight that is Dearly Beloved live.

As well as fantastic tracks from last year’s album, Enduro, (such as ‘Olympics Of No Regard’, a personal highlight), the band treat us to some brand new numbers: “We spent the whole of last winter in Toronto, it was miserable, so we wrote this song”, Higgins explains. But misery is the last thing on your mind as lashings of fast-paced bass lines are delivered with vigorous enthusiasm and the band storm into yet another cacophony of awesomeness.

Amongst the unique charisma, impressive musical skill and unmatched energy of Dearly Beloved, what’s also strikingly apparent is the band’s sincere gratitude for being here. As Higgins beams, he expresses his thanks to headliners, Swervedriver, for having them on their tour and tells us what a great time he’s had over here. Then back to business; Chow and Higgins endearingly put their heads together for a moment of intimacy before diving off the stage, and immersing themselves in the crowd for their final song of the night. And it’s just like being back at The Windmill, but with a few more (though still not enough) people.

Dearly Beloved close the set in their characteristically wonderfully chaotic way as Chow screams at the crowd and their final, rip-roaring anthem explodes with impassioned, punk-infused vigour. And then it’s over, and I’m left with fists clenched, head banging and desperate for more.

My only disappointment of the set was that there weren’t more people in the crowd ‘woo’ing like I was; though the band certainly didn’t let that stop them putting on the most immense, energy-fuelled, and downright fantastic, show. Regardless of how many people may be ‘woo’ing, Dearly Beloved are able to blast out sounds as though they’re playing to an arena full of adoring fans. And I’m quite sure that they’ll be doing that for real in the near future. Watch this space.

Download Enduro here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles