DEAD WRITERS AT BUSH HALL: SPELLBINDING, ENCHANTING AND ARTSY

“The worst is sometimes the best”

Strutting onto the stage with a swagger are Dead Writers. They appear self-assured, focused and collected. Eyeing up the room, casting a gaze into the historic walls of Bush Hall and anyone who stands before them. This band has already seen early success, with an amplified version of gothic rock primed to perhaps one day cause an explosion given the chance.

On this night, the rock outfit is here supporting Pale Waves, to commemorate BIMM London’s Welcome Week. This annual event brings together music students before kick-starting a new term year. BIMM Music Institute is an open door to the music industry, with some of the biggest artists in recent times attending (Fontaines D.C., George Ezra, Mimi Webb, Tom Odell, The Kooks). In true ‘Welcome Week’ fashion, the lineup is also all alumni.

Dead Writers seem relaxed, before jumping into a fast-paced setlist of existing and new material. Paul Shine, the frontman, gallops around the stage almost begging for it to be bigger, while the band become one with their instruments. There’s enough charisma on stage to draw comparisons with The Cure or (on the path to) Queen. What struck us most, however, was the energy between each musician, each has mastered their craft for moments like this.

Song-wise, our highlight was Lisa, an artsy rock tune that dances around an addictive melody, while enchanting listeners with an ensemble of instruments. The newer tracks also went down a treat, crackling with a vintage sound. As every song passed, while their themes and aesthetic felt unified, it became harder to box the band into a single genre.

When describing the band for newcomers, Paul has explained in interviews: “Dead Writers is a concept band who tries to match the electricity and intensity of rock ‘n roll music with a certain sense of drama.”

Rounding out the evening, flowers were tossed into the crowd. Which felt very Morrisey, and only solidified how many early rock influences weave into the band’s core. As applause followed, an enriching experience came to a theatrical close. When a band is this confident on grassroots stages, who knows where they may one day end up?

You can catch Dead Writers for yourself on Halloween for a London headline show.

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Charlie Wright

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