Review Written by Kempsey Grant -16.12.2021
Wakefield College and University Centre's creative HND Popular Music Performance students Introduced Netflix own Stranger Things themed event curated, created and constructed by the students themselves at the Mechanics Theatre taken place 14/12/2021.
The students were tasked with independently planning and hosting their own event weeks prior and the hard work successfully paid off.
I had the pleasure of spectating the behind-the-scenes processes from the taxing equipment organising, loading in and loading out, To the tedious processes of setting up individual instruments, amps, cabs, synths and cable labyrinths.
Then came around soundcheck!
This is the exciting part; getting a sneak preview of what is to come later on in the night!
Each band undergoing quite bothersome and repetitive protocols to ensure all sound is, well... checked and all equipment is functioning smoothly. It was also quite refreshing to observe sound technicians and engineers working to fix problems in a snap!
I had a few hours to kill before taking notes and taking some Photos and ran a lunch errand for my colleagues working. I returned to the venue to a fully functioning stage with spectacular lighting and Projection of the Mind Flayer on the back wall. The finishing touches of colourful Christmas lights wrapped around microphone stands were quite the entertaining nod to Winona Ryder's performance as Joyce Season 1 Episode 3 in attempts to communicate with Christmas lights. Before we knew it; the doors flew open at 7pm, I armed myself with my camera and it was time to Rock and Roll! The First band opened with the iconic opening theme filled with digitised arpeggios, solid rhythms and muddy bass with a twisted of originality and contrasted soft vocals. I particularly liked the composition between songs that really gave a sense of space and breathing room. Guitar Solos were humble and impressive and added a heroic sense to the textures overall. The Second band blew me a away with the combined classic 80's pop vibe with punk-grunge set. Offering up mesmerising yet primal drum beats, both Soundscaping and guitar riffs provided a wyrd vibe and really kicked it hard with bass. The a mean telephone vocals were quite chilling and once again kicked real hard and clean transitioning into the chorus.
The Final band told a story with combine male and female vocals, coming at you with forceful guitar, bass and booming drums. This band fleshed out their dynamics to the extreme. Progressing into Djent- like breakdowns leaving the audience in awe ending the night in a grand applause.
I am most proud of my fellow peers and their hard work and as a photographer I had the most fun photographing the entirety and I am most proud to display my work below;
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