Nothing & Hitmen at the Moth Club, London

“I’ve been here over and over again.”

Formed from the ashes of recent cult act Island of Love and sharing members with fellow hardcore adjacent alt-rockers Powerplant. London’s own Hitmen take to the stage in a wall of distortion that blends the fuzzed out sounds of 90s alternative classics Pavement, with the proto-grunge of Dinosaur Jr. Despite hitting repeated technical issues the band are able to play them off with cool composure and some casual jamming, making the set feel more like a peak into a private rehearsal than a public show. Powering through a streak of high tempo tunes in record time, the intimate atmosphere is over almost as soon as it began. Hitmen have serious potential and fans of Husker Dü‘s high gain melodies need to pay attention.

Hitmen

With shoegaze having entered its third wave, enjoying cultural relevance and critical success in equal measure. Bands like Nothing, who bridge the gap between the pioneering acts of the late 80’s and early 90’s and the viral nu-Gaze bands of today, have never been more important. At a time when shoegaze has never been more closely tied with stereotypes of a homogeneous, generic sound that transcended local scenes through TikTok sounds and saturated the genre as a whole. Nothing have stayed to true to the experimental nature of shoegaze’s early days, retaining a darker edge to their sound and willingness to explore their influences in a far more pronounced manner than their peers. The new album a short history of decay employs harsh dissonance, breakbeats and a deeper variety of tempo, setting them aside from the competition stylistically and adding to a far more dynamic live show than the genre’s namesake so often implies.

Nothing

Pinned in place and waiting in rapt attention as the band alter tunings and tweak the setlist. 300 bodies are crammed up to the Moth Club’s rafters, with the audience quickly turning into a press of sweating bodies. Nothing masterfully play the tension in the room by opening with a low and slow rendition of “purple strings”. Before launching into a crushing “July the Fourth” and letting the audience loose in a flurry of flying limbs and spilt beer. With the setlist drawing on their earlier year’s as much as it does february’sa short history of decay. It’s easy to appreciate both the growth in Nothing‘s songwriting and just how well their earliest material stands beside it. Songs like “Hymn to the Pillory” still sound fresh and possess a vitality that has stood the test of time. Founding member and frontman Domenic Palermo’s ability to project his crooning voice over the din of three guitars and a thrashing crowd is impressive. While the emotion in the room is certainly amplified by generous helpings of alcohol, the feeling is authentic. As Palermo leads an unusual blend of hardcore kids and indie heads through “never come never morning” and “eaten by worms“, they manage to end the show with an audience united by melancholy.

Our review of a short history of decay can be read here.