LIVE CHASTITY SING IN MANCHESTER – WHAT HAPPENED?

American band Chastity Belt are touring to promote their new album ‘Live, Laugh, Love’. The band that formed in Walla Walla Washington state in 2012 has four previous albums.

The band appeared on YES’ very gloomy pink and amber lit stage and it’s an effective start with a quick jump into the first track. It’s a loud, American indie that musically alternates between dark and happy tunes.

“It Takes Time” is from the new album and sets the perfect template for the show to come. Understated, slow drum beats, strong bass lines and two intertwined guitars that fly perfectly together. The vocals hardly shine over their low instruments with gentle harmonies.

Their sound is depressing yet uplifting, quiet but a little loud. It has a contradictory, deep, somber feel that then suddenly shines with exquisite harmony and melody. There’s an almost shoestring feel (without mountains of volume) to their sound, and I find myself quickly warming to them musically, and the set time ultimately feels too short.

Also from the new album, ‘Laugh’ hints at a stronger sound, with the band hitting a faster tempo with some tastefully muffled guitars in the background adding a bit of grit.

For me, “Chemtrails” is the standout, the sparsely insistent guitar riff over a powerful bassline and the introduction of dark, distorted rhythm guitar and dark vocals. It’s mesmerizing and there are large parts of the crowd that just rock out with their eyes closed.

The band generate wholesale singing and perhaps some of the most melodious vocals I’ve ever heard, especially the group behind me, who were so good that they added to rather than detracted from the band.

“Different Now” from their 2017 album “I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone” is perfect, a slightly somnolent musical journey that carries you along. “Different Now” from their 2017 album “I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone” is perfect, a slightly somnolent musical journey that carries you along. “I-90 Bridge” maintains that almost motor-like rhythm, gently moving forward and moving the listener along at a gentle pace towards the songs conclusion.

The atmosphere on stage is a happy one, with the band members smiling at each other frequently and this is shared with the audience during their conversations with each other. They announce that they haven’t played in Manchester for five years and the last time was also at YES. After asking if anyone was at the last gig, they seem genuinely and happily surprised that a large majority respond with a yes and perhaps the loudest cheer of the night. A dedicated bass fan.

PHOTO CREDIT NEIL WINWARD

REVIEW BY RICHIE YATES

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