Photo Credit: Hal Fade
With the fallow vibes of January now behind us, it’s refreshing to see Bristol’s live music scene spring back to life in recent weeks. No venue embodies the city’s maritime spirit quite like the iconic Thekla, a 424-ton, 173-foot former trading vessel that has hosted performances and club nights for over three decades. Inside its deceptively spacious bowels, Thekla can fit 400 attendees, a generous bar, and a few merch tables. Touring in support of their acclaimed debut, Glutton For Punishment, it’s the perfect space to catch the gothic tones of Heartworms on February 22. The claustrophobic, industrial, and slightly retro space fits the band’s melodramatic set like a glove.
But before Heartworms takes the stage, the audience is treated to an outstanding performance from Dublin/Colchester act She’s In Parties. Marrying 80s pop sheen with dense shoegaze breakdowns, SIP’s songs impressively drift from sweet to sour in just three and a half minutes. Unlike other shoegaze adjacent groups, SIP has heaps of stage presence, thanks to Irish-born singer/guitarist Katie Dillon. With her jacket on and ginger bob bouncing around the stage, she’s a joy to watch . Not to mention, she’s properly stoked to be playing The Thekla. Despite only having a few EPs to their name, the band had the aura of a veteran act, with tunes like “Cherish” and “Angelic” going down a storm with the sold-out crowd. After a brief but memorable set, the band leaves everyone wanting more.
Before long, the intro instrumental from Glutton For Punishment, “In The Beginning,” drifts through the PA system. Decked out head-to-toe in black, the backcombed guitarists take the stage before a silent Jojo Orme skulks on before remaining dead still.
Dressed in a dark cassock with a ribbon, Heartworms has evolved from the military-indebted look of her earlier tours to something more cinematic. With her wild eyes, jerky dance movements, and palpable sense of frenzy, Orme channels the silent classic The Cabinet of Dr. Calligari. After the shimmering tones and smiles of She’s In Parties, it’s clear we’re in for something more theatrical and aloof.
With just one full-length album and a few EPs under her name, she treats the crowd to the entirety of the debut record, plus four older tracks. Despite the album being only a few weeks old, fans have already mastered the new material, greeting each song with a roar of approval.
For every moment of quiet melodrama, there’s a contrasting barrage of mechanical drums and chunky riffs that Orme blazes through on her black and gold Gibson Firebird. This contrast makes Heartworms such an intriguing live act and prospect on record. Spooky woe often follows cathartic screams, wry lyrics, or good old-fashioned guitar solos. She deliver a rehearsed and self-serious performance, yet infuses it with enough rage and bite to get the blood pumping.
At times, the theatrical nature of the performance didn’t quite gel well with the Thekla’s intimate setting. As she tries to finish “Extraordinary Wings” with a breathy refrain, Orme is interrupted by an overzealous attendee bellowing ‘RIGHT!’ in a thick Bristolian accent. The outburst earned him a death stare and a middle finger from the frontwoman.
The mix of gothic distance and friendly cider-drinking fans was amusing. For the most part, the boat buzzed with people witnessing an exciting up-and-coming artist. She has already built a formidable stage presence that will carry her into the future.
After thanking the crowd for coming and remarking on the coolness of playing on a boat, the band finished with the brooding “Smugglers Adventure” before disappearing back into the shadows. “Well, that kicked ass,” one fan stated as he headed for the exit. I can’t say I disagree.