★★★★★

CHICHESTER’S Traams took to the stage for their headline slot at the Green Door Store’s 6th Birthday party with the venue packed to capacity. 

Supporting grunge outfits Fuoco and Gang did an excellent job of warming up the crowd – the former duo in particular whipped up a frenzy with their feral brand of garage rock. Singer and guitarist James Gale embarked on a vicious if scattershot rant midway through the set, concluding with the slightly confusing line: “Trump is just an excuse.”

Thankfully his band’s music held together better than his political message – Gale’s bass-heavy riffing thudded straight to the ribcage. The guitar licks were simple but effective, lingering in the mind of the audience once the intensity had finally relented. Traams upped the stakes further still, providing a performance that revealed their longevity and experience as a band.

Their rhythm section was infallibly tight and lead guitarist and singer Stu Hopkins was unflappable even when riddled by a technical issue. With the three-piece driving undeniable krautrock jams the audience quickly became a sweating, swirling mass of bodies.

Peak hysteria was reached during the song House On Fire, which prompted crowd-surfers and a moshpit that nearly filled the room. Other set highlights included Coster and Succulent Thunder Anthem, in which Hopkins fittingly sang “Please don’t slip and break your neck” to the sea of tangled limbs trying to keep their balance in front of the stage.

It was a night best summed up by Hopkins himself. “It seems you’ve all gone a little bit crazy.”

Charles Cook