Live Review: Drenge at Sunset Tavern 6/4/2015

This past Thursday at the Sunset Tavern over in Ballard was blessed to be hosting an intimate showing of some of the most face melting and forward thinking UK indie rock that’s around today. You might think that’s a big statement - and it is. The band, you ask? None other than Drenge. And if you missed this show without good reason, well expect next time they are here to be pushing and shoving your way to the front.

Fresh of their sophomore album, Undertow (read our review here), the loveless brothers (Eoin on guitar and vocals, Rory on drums) are joined by a touring bassist, Mr. Rob Graham. When I say fresh though, I truly mean it. This is not their first time playing at Tractor Tavern - they were here last summer too. Last summer’s show was grimy and transported you to a shady basement in England with their untamed garage rock. This time around they are without a doubt still untamed, but they are refined and doing exactly what they want. With another album under their belts to draw from their show cut to the heart of those in attendance. As they opened their set with “Running Wild” off of Undertow, the energy that vocalist Eoin Loveless brought to the room was contagious. The restless audience all zeroed in on the song and the focus was entirely on Drenge. Throughout their set, they skillfully switched between songs from both albums, weaving a story that is entirely their own and one that is not even close to over.

Seattle gets a lot of really great musicians passing through, so it’s easy to overlook some, but Drenge is not one that should be passed by. They are packing out venues on the East Coast and across the water in the UK. Nothing could be more perfect than Eoin screaming out “you’re never awake, you’re never awake” than to Seattle - who churned up a very small crowd. Good news? Intimate rock and roll shows are hard to come by. For the ability to stand less than a yard away from some serious shredding, I am thankful.

Drenge: