THE BASILISK.
Castlefest - The Castle Tavern Luton. Saturday 26th September 2015.
Its Saturday lunchtime and the Arndale/Mall Centre in Luton is packed with shoppers, I and my Bedford based colleagues (including BAM’s keeef) are racing against time to be in at the start of Castlefest 2015. This is the annual music event held in the towns Castle Tavern pub. It’s a free festival featuring some twenty plus rock and metal bands, each playing for thirty minutes. It will culminate with a forty five minute set from Countless Skies, who are headlining at midnight fifteen. Phew! Sorry fellas, but my limited human battery will be well expired totally by then. With a trusty pint of cider in hand, I’m very glad to say we have made it with seconds to spare, as Bedford’s The Basilisk kick off Castlefest at 1:30pm. The Basilisk (Video)
They return to this venue after a most impressive debut a few short weeks ago. Few local bands at present really excite me quite as much as The Basilisk. Fresh faced but vehemently fired up for this challenge. They have drawn a good gathering of support from the early arrivals. Inspired by influences ranging from Metallica and welcome breath of fresh air to the Bedford music scene.
In their short gig performing career, they have already ruffled a few feathers while bending some eardrums in the process. They have tried at all times to be fairly experimental in their rock thoughts so, yet again being aboard the Basilisk bus I am tightly belted up for another blistering ride. One thing is for certain, the journey will be both engrossing and above all – fun. The pubs natural building structure does hamper, the low ceiling and solid stone clad flooring makes for a somewhat harsh but compromisingly raw sound. After a touch nervous start, when both band and sound engineer are truly getting to know each other, The Basilisk are sublimely cooking on gas with Judge Jury Executioner, genuine self belief is now evident to be seen in their all round playing. Delicious and familiar anthems such as Perfect World and Recovery are now succinctly performed with pin point precision. Blimey! It even sees baldy men (i.e. me!) old enough to perhaps know just a little bit better to join in with a head nod and a tap of the feet. The stage dynamics of all The Basilisk gang; which are firmly led by Jack Hutchins is astonishing, honing their sound, the duelling guitars offer loads of sumptuous hooks and gargantuan riffs aplenty. Pitched right in Harvey who manically demonstrates his kit with some furious thrashing of arms. It’s not surprising when after In My Blood (and I may add, fans of The Basilisk will be pleased to know that none of the claret stuff was spilt from any veins today!) Harvey desperately asks Jack if he can have a much needed slake from the vocalists pint of water. They finish off with Make It Happen, which will feature on the soon to be recorded New E.P. This is a song that the band especially enjoy playing and it does show today.
They go out on a terrific high. Considering that The Basilisk are still in their teens, they already have a most remarkable knack of taking the good bits of metal and rock, leaving the chaff to the more pigeon – holed bands. Arses are also kicked metaphorically with a healthy modicum of hardcore. With loud applause at their closure, The Basilisk can react with a sense of pride, that this was a tight, intense and above all powerful performance. Well done!
On reflection, Castlefest 2015 was a real pleasure to attend. The strength, support and above all the inherent interest of rock and metal in Luton shows this is a day when the attendees can compare ink stained skin, various metal piercings and some wild dayglo hair colours, all ruled under the vast umbrella of alternative music. For those of us who have not decided not to invest in extra bodily features, we were made to feel most welcome. Thank you The Castle Tavern Luton, it was all most refreshing.