Ringo Deathstarr @ O2 Academy Islington, London 06.09.24

A triple hit of shoegaze in the Big Smoke

Sep 19th, 2024 at O2 Academy Islington, London / By Richard Lewis
Ringo Deathstarr As the pre-show string of classic shoegaze tracks fades down from the PA, dream pop types Sunbrella arrive onstage to an impressive early doors turnout at the Academy.

Pairing boy – girl vocals with glide guitar textures and programmed beats, the duo’s material evokes MBVs most dance inflected works, such as the drum n bass assisted Wonder 2. While the beats could do with being scaled back slightly to give their earbalm harmonies room to breathe, the duo exude promise.

Opening with a brace of their fastest tunes, Blushing waste no time in making their presence felt. With Elliot from Ringo Deathstarr pushing the sound desk faders, the set showcases the group’s firepower. On their gossamer harmonies are the principal focus, the quartet have a tougher sound live that casts more light on their rhythm section.

Control shares some of Throwing Muses’ tension between melodicism and frayed emotional states, Blame evokes peak-period Lush while Silver Teeth from this year’s Sugarcoat LP is an ultra-heavy guitar work out. Elsehwre Dream Merchants is a hair flailing grunge stompathon replete with squalling axe noises that closes the set in impressive style.

Come the turn of the headliners and the floor space of the Academy is pretty much full. Their first visit to the UK since the dim and distant pre pandemic era of 2020, Ringo Deathstarr still command a cult audience as the score of band T shirts and the compact stage front moshpit.

A strong vocal mix showcases the plaiting of Eliot and Alex’s vocals, Fraizer's jest that “Every great gig has a drum solo” between sound desk tweaks, prompting a slightly reluctant solo turn from thunderous sticksman Daniel Coborn. Paying homage to their Texan roots, The Big Bopper doffs a hat to J.P. Richardson, who was a fatality on The Day The Music Died, while Lazy Lane, a stormcloud of distorted guitar noise meanwhile is introduced as being about a former address of drummer Daniel.

A good third of the band’s 2015 opus Pure Mood is essayed, one of the band’s finest moments Heavy Metal Suicide featuring alongide the metallic clang of Stare At the Sun that explodes from its prowelling, circular riff into its sunburst chours. Theme tune of sorts Gazin’ is the first in a double hit of the trio's most melodic tracks followed by ideal single Guilt. Tambourine Girl signals the close as the trio toggle between fast and slow gears, diverting into an off-kilter verse of Champagne Supernova, a track by a little known band who rarely feature in the UK press and back out again. A solid restatement of principals, almost twenty years in the game and this Deathstarr’s planet levelling ability remains intact.