Coloured balloons fill the scratched, hard wooden floor of the Oh Yeah Centre on the night of Strange New Places’ long awaited Uncomfortable EP launch. Bangor's own Gender Chores start the proceedings, temporarily known as 'The Lazy Susans', with only two thirds of the band present. Filling out a pared down set with a cover of Jealous of the Birds' ‘Tonight I Feel Like Kafka’, and an acoustic rendition of their own song ‘Legislate’, the duo dedicate ‘Give Us A Smile’ to anyone who ever worked in the customer service industry. Unsurprisingly, two single guitars have rarely made a room feel so loud than in that particular moment.
Taking to the stage next are Buí. They’re astonishing, and it almost feels disrespectful to pick apart the individual songs performed. Their set is filled with upbeat, almost poppy tunes, with a mischievous tilt, their sound belying some sneakily heavy subjects.
After what feels like forever, Strange New Places finally began their set, concentrating on showcasing tracks from the EP, along with a scattering of classics which haven’t quite make the cut yet.
There's something amazing about their frontwoman, Ashley Jones. The frantic feel to her vocals is so intriguing and – frankly – beautiful. She sings as if she's panicking, trying to get all of these secrets off of her chest before the chance passes. She has nothing to worry about tonight; in this room the lyrics about her life seem so relatable. Confessing "I am just a hopeless romantic!", the crowd echo her, with most of them feeling just as much romance as she is.
There’s always a danger of local gigs becoming stale- but with this EP showcase, we really have been taken to Strange New Places.
