Touring their latest and second album ‘Der Traum Uber Alles’, translated from German as ‘The Dream Above All Else’. Avalanche Party embark on an epic 24-date voyage across the UK and EU to celebrate the long-awaited arrival of their new album. Originally scheduled for recording in the USA in 2020, but put on hold until 2022 due to Covid restrictions. The album is a refined piece of art, morphed together with creative love and tenderness. Recorded at Rancho De La Luna in California, famed for Josh Homme’s Desert Sessions. The 11-track album shines with the band’s creative genius and the soundscape perfectly reflects the euphoric live experience the band delivers. We catch up with them in Hull, their home away from home, having played consistently here for 10 years. Adoring long-term fans gather eagerly to hear the new material live.
Opening the night for Avalanche Party were Wormfood; a young college band comprised of members of other college bands, Ethan, Cicci and Dan of Haldern and Kit of Wench. Away from her usual place at the drums, Kit makes ample use of her free reign, with energetic flaying of her limbs and pogo bouncing to the huge psychy funk groves her bandmates are producing. Wormfood’s set is short and sweet but packed full of punch, with a Sonic Youth cover thrown in for good measure. Early on in their career this band are already beyond their years. Be sure to catch these rising stars next month at The Adelphi, on April 13th with CLT DRP, Søwt, Pleasure Centre, Magnolia, Beth Pilling and The Bootleggers and The Evil Litter.
Next up was Leeds-based post rock band Bleach, a relatively new band formed last year, this was their third show in Hull after playing Sesh twice in March 24 and Jan 25. Bleach bring us soaring guitar, explosive drums and ethereal grungy vocals. The band do a fantastic job in getting the crowd fired up and suitably hot for the headliners. Bleach play two shows with Hull band O’Phantom at the beginning of May at Leeds Oporto and York Fulford Arms.
Hull’s history with members of Avalanche Party dates back to late 2013, with guitarist Jared’s previous project, the provocatively named ‘Le Petite Mort’, which linked him up with ‘The Sesh’ back when it was hosted at Linnet and Lark pub (now The Bowery). The Sesh moved to Polar Bear in 2014.
Avalanche Party’s formation was essentially a supergroup merging two separate bands of lifelong friends together – Kane, Jordan and Joe already played in 3 Foot Ninja and were looking for a new project. And so Avalanche Party was born. They credit the longevity of the band to their solid friendships, stating arguments only stretch as far as ‘Where to go for breakfast?’ – Morrisons or McDonalds usually! Avalanche Party have played in Hull for 10 consecutive years since 2015 and has been welcomed into Hull’s scene with open arms.
This time was no exception, with lifelong hardcore fans lined up front and centre, knowing what to expect. Amongst the crowd were some of the band’s most loyal disciples, including David Hayhoe, AKA ‘The gig jacket’ who’s seen the band north of 50 times and usually appears at five or six dates per tour. Bob and Corrine Wallis were also present, who’ve seen Avalanche Party an impressive 79 times! With a sizeable repertoire of tunes, the band played a selection of favourites old and new.
Opening with the first track from their debut EP, ‘Obstacle’, It was a sharp lift off with it’s feral rock ‘n’ roll vibes the band are known for. Cranking up the tempo tenfold, with a with a fresher synth injected sound was ‘Serious Dance Music’, and it did exactly what it says on the label. The pulsating, pumping beat easily cured anyone suffering a case of Sunday staleness, and bodies began to groove and move to this serious piece of dance music. Another hit from the new album was ‘ Nureyev Said It Best’, which kicks in with pummelling drums.
This track has some heavy Western vibes that move at a crazy pace; with twisty riffs and the introduction of the sax, as the song slows and steadily swells towards it’s crescendo. Firm fan favourites, ‘Rebel Forever’ and ‘Howl’, encourage an entourage of enthusiastic singing, the latter of which has been reintroduced into the set by fan demand. Giving the crowd a chance to breathe, we’re gifted with the beautiful new track ‘Noise Between Us’, which warrants pindrop silence to appreciate its ethereal nature. Bringing things back uptempo with ‘Shake The Slack’ and ‘Slinky ‘, the latter of which sees some powerful and prominent sax playing, adding a carnival-like vibe to the music. Most of the night saw swirling blizzards of mosh pits sweep through the venue. However, we end the night with ‘Ecstasy’, a gorgeous life narrative highlighting the joy of simply being alive, the track sways, twinkles and eventually soars, cutting through the atmosphere. Members of the audience waved their arms singing in unison, wearing huge grins and reflecting exactly what the song is about, if the night had been left there, the feeling of ecstasy would have buzzed around the room. Always longing for more, the Avalanche Party fans disrupted equilibrium by chanting rowdily for an encore, to which the band responded in kind with ‘Johnny Dream’. Delighted cheers echoed and reverberated around the room, and the band bellow back in response,
“We’ll see you soon Hull!”. The band revealed to me earlier that a third album is in the works. For now they continue their UK/EU expedition. You can plug into their sonic live experience at any of the dates below. A final message from Hull to Avalanche Party, “Hull loves you and we shall wait earnestly for your return, “Auf wiedersehen!”.
