You know when you hear a band that makes you stop in your tracks? We’re spoiled rotten here at TheZineUK for good music, so when a track comes along that really shakes the eardrums - you know it’s extra special.

TheBigBadSad.’s (all one word, full stop at the end.) Shake Me Down was that track. For a band who are adamant not to be compared to other bands, I am perhaps at risk of incurring the wrath here when I say it gave me echos of bands I used to hear at early Cave Club nights (RIP Buffy Bar, we love you). That Mecca for us Gothy teens who didn’t quite catch the indie wave. Anyway, talking of a rabbithole, I was soon recommending Venus De Milo, The Loot and others to everyone that would listen, and booking a train down to Bristol to see self-styled gloom rock goth cowboy’s TheBigBadSad live, dragging Opia Photos all the way from Scotland to document the adventure.

The 10pm stage time would have put off a lot of punters on a Thursday night, but the fact that the venue was still full is a testament to just how good this band are live. The entire set was a high energy sonic assault on the ears that ended up with a bassist off stage and in the crowd. The stage at Thunderbolt isn’t that big, but it’ll be hard to find any stage that can contain TheBigBadSad….

…That said, if any stage is worthy, it’s the one at the Amersham Arms. The ZineUK’s spiritual home. So, being the cheeky working class lasses we are, we asked if TheBigBadSad. would play our Expo on 7th March (Caffy talks about it here). Rather than telling us to feck off, the lovely lads have agreed to play and I can’t recommend coming down enough to see them live. Words won’t do it justice.

Movers/Shakers and Industry Makers contact me or Call a Caff for list.

Listen Below:

MORE LIVE?

07-3-24 - Amersham Arms, London (Our Expo)

15-3-24 - Rough Trade, Bristol (w/MeatRaffle)

11-4-24 The Cavern, Exeter (w/Reuben’s Daughters)

12-4-23 Maltlings Taphouse, Newton Abbott (W/Cast Courts)

9-5-24 Thunderbolt, Bristol

17-5-24 Dublin Castle, London

2-6-24 Exchange, Bristol

11-7-24 Gain Barge (TBC), Bristol

21-8-24 (Save The Date!)