The Croft, with its Narnia style door to the cavernous ‘Band Room’ behind the scenes of a normal looking pub, is the perfect setting for a raucous gig. Even better perhaps, it lends itself adequately as the setting for a video shoot staged by new Bristol heavyweights, The Hit Ups, for their song Dirt Pile. With a gaggle of bright young things tripping through the door to participate, you get the sense that these guys are bound for the dizzying heights of fame.
The night takes place in three stages: A video shoot for a single, which will in fact only be aired around May as a tantalising promotional film aimed at showing all and sundry what they are capable of. We are then treated to the musical acoustics of the talented and charming Sam K of the band Truffle Pig, another one to watch this year indeed and finally, after much ado, heavy banter between the bar staff and The Hit Ups professed ‘throat tearing’ lyricist Josh, they take to the stage and lose the crowd in a heavy dose of hedonism, manifested in a way only they can deliver. I am strongly reminded of the latter day Daryl Palumbo incarnation Head Automatica as lyrics, both conversational and confrontational, interweave with skilful, sumptuous, shredding manoeuvres between guitarists Samuel and Charlie. A personal favourite being Discotheque, I cannot resist the central drumbeat executed by Lewis and smoothly delivered line “Welcome to the discotheque, hot butter!”, an unbelievably sexy lyric, for reasons I can’t fully understand! The crowd are in a frenzied state by the time they decide to unleash a sneaky preview of new track 66Sexy, and it does not disappoint.
The guys are a fantastic mix, creative and collaborative, breaking out impromptu beat boxing in the middle of their set and admitting that they share their artistic abilities when writing new music when I met them earlier that evening. Earnestly stating; ‘Our music style has changed a lot, especially over the last year, where we’ve been bringing in new influences and writing our music to make it pleasing to us, as well as to crowds’, the guys own influences such as Does It Offend You, Yeah?, and Kings of Leon’s latest album. They also emphasise a pride in hailing from Bristol with its musical background and epic club scene and in receiving such warm responses from the crowd; ‘It’s a pride we haven’t really seen in other cities.’ states Charlie.
The pride is certainly overflowing by the time the set is done, and with just enough time to deliver the crunchy, heart rending sound of the beautifully cultivated, Icarus, and smooth, minimal quality of Unforgivable, we are pitched back into silence, our ears ringing and a smile on every face; it’s clear that the bands ethos of “Part, party, vomit, hurl” is utterly apt. ‘It’s about the audience having a good time, while we’re having a good time. Seeing Jay-Z at Glastonbury and getting goose bumps was amazing. That’s our ultimate goal, to give the ultimate gig that affects audiences like that.’ With the crowd they draw, and without even being signed, there is no doubt that this level of adoration is achievable, with time and dedication they so clearly strive for behind everything they do. There’s no doubt that they are Bristol’s hot property, with the fan base and admirers to match. The very fact that they attract what one James Cook tastefully described as ‘jail bait’ cannot do them any harm for future fame. Just keep your hands to yourself!
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