REVIEW: CIRCUS BLUES AT BAR DEEP, PAIGNTON (05/08/11)
From their name you can get a general idea of what sort of music the band are going to play, but you really couldn’t be more wrong. Blues are not the main genre of Circus Blues, but a partial element of their music. With the floor covered in hay the scene seems to fit perfectly to the bands original blues and rock and roll vibes. Attracting an array of audiences, people start to fill-in from outside the venue just to watch this eclectic trio deliver their amazingly raw build-ups and outstanding climaxes.
Delivering to us a 40 minute mix of tangible rhythms and judicious chords, this band had us all gagging for more. Taking us on a voyage through their music, the lads from Circus Blues are prepared to kick-start their performance and really get stuck in the music. Admitting, “We’d rather have no money and continue to play music to make people happy than be stuck in a dead-end job earning loads”, it’s apparent that these talented trio have no plans to go elsewhere.
Unlike other bands, with the quality of their music they can’t help but deliver every time. Boasting unique and outstanding vocals, Jay Grasse obviously knows his way around a guitar pulling a variation of arduous chords out the bag. With some serious finger-picking on the bass from Adam Williams, his vivacity is shown through the sheer determination on his face as he plays his way through each song, picking each string with flagrant enthusiasm. Normally, with the drummer is accused of hiding behind the rest of the band, Kyle Waters is the complete opposite. Joining in on the backing-vocals with bassist, Williams, Waters’ percussion talents are a masterpiece.
After their stunning performance of ‘Someone Let the Devil Inside’, it’s clear to see that the band is eager to go on. Learning an array of instruments from such a young age it comes as no surprise that their talent is obvious. A band with real inspirations and talent, they are purely confounded and by not sticking to a particular type of genre, Circus Blues rock (excuse the pun) the stage with an array of perfectly thought out songs. Then with a prolific performance of ‘On the Rise’, their expertise is apparent as the crowd just can’t seem to get enough of the catchy rhythm. The perfectly mastered beats, rhythms and chords are a huge hit with the audience as they roar for more. They manage to lyrically connect with everyone else with people relating to their songs with the intelligent use of metaphors.
With an uncanny performance of ‘Where is my Mind’ by The Pixies, Circus Blues’ sublime cover version was enjoyed equally by both the band and crowd and I can safely say that there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t tapping their foot or nodding their head along to the music. By Finishing off with such a well-known hit, the band left us wondering where they could have taken us to next. It’s easy to see that they could have gone on for hours from the sheer adrenaline on their faces, their banter with the crowd and the intensity in their music. They say all good things must come to an end, but for Circus Blues, this is just the beginning. This band will take over; one epic song at a time.
Words and photo: Sophie Stamp
