Enola Gay played Southampton’s grassroots intimate venue, The Joiners on Thursday evening, musician Craig Perry was there to review for us.
Enola Gay was the name assigned to the Boeing B-29 bomber which was the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in warfare. Much like that Flying Fortress from the mid 40’s, the Belfast 4-piece that set their sights on Southampton packed an equally explosive and effective payload.
Straight out of the gate with ‘Leeches,’ the lads’ intentions are made clear. Reilly discharges his lyrics with a flawless sense of urgency and pent-up venom with no sign of letting up, attacking established favourites like “Salt” and lesser-known numbers like “Naked Names” and “Headphones” with the same unrelenting energy. The lyrics are meaningful, current and deep. This depth is matched by a solid backbone energetically driving the music headlong courtesy of the drum and bass combo of Bernie and Cooper.
Together, they effortlessly pilot the machine through the night, laying waste to everything from “Scrappers” to the ending track “For God & For Ulster.” Heads down, they’re efficiently clearing a path for McVeigh to weave his six-stringed ethereal sonic tapestry that truly captivates the senses. This is a band at the forefront of a growing underground charge. There’s a message here. A purpose. A language.
So as we collectively traverse this turbulent tidal wave of political unrest, crippling living costs and social uncertainty, we can rely on Enola Gay to deliver the message of the people…and to do it loudly.
Words by Craig Perry
Belfast post-punk four-piece Enola Gay have a further UK date in September at the O2 Academy Leicester, you can find tickets here.
