The Dreamy Soundscapes of Woodlouse for Now
Though a relatively new band in the Sheffield diaspora of indie music groups, Woodlouse for Now, as I saw them at Sidney & Matilda the other day, have already earned themselves a dedicated following. Having been a supporting act for several other events, and a headliner for one of their own, it came as no surprise to me that the band performed with a certain ease and confidence in their abilities, and also in cultivating a lasting impression. Rocking coordinating all-denim outfits for the event I attended was a charming stylistic move, and their audience were all very well-dressed in turn; I couldn’t help but feel a sliver of cool myself. Singer/guitarist Lucy Knight’s friendly engagement with the crowd was also a welcome earnestness sorely lacking in many indie bands across the country.
Headed by Mitty Swimer’s fuzzy ‘wah’ guitar tone, their music has a soft, dream-like soundscape that made me want to blast it at full volume in my bedroom in those times when life gets tough. The song ‘ANTS’, which stands for ‘Anxious Negative Thoughts’, which they performed felt like a careful consideration of connecting the lyrical concept to the sonic one. It was quite a non-stop set for Louis Wallis, who was both drummer and bassist for that evening, but the dedication to perform while their resident bassist was unavailable displayed a passion for showing us their music more than anything. The last song they played, a cover of ‘Ghost Town’ by the Specials, reminded me of a Portishead tune. It captured the dark groove of the original song while also making it something completely unrecognisable to it, so much so that I thought it was one of their own. Because they didn’t feel as if they were committed to one genre, the creativity in their lyrics and motifs felt like a true testament to each member’s multi-instrumental talents.
If you are in the Sheffield area and want to check these guys out (and maybe have a chat with them afterwards!), they’ll be doing a set at Sidney’s free festival, taking place throughout the weekend of the 25th of July. It might be one of the last times to see them as a collective also, as they informed me that post-grad life unfortunately means that some of them will move away from the area. I, personally, wouldn’t need any more incentive to go see them than this, if only to experience the soundscapes they produce once more. Though life has pushed them in separate directions, hopefully Woodlouse won’t remain as ‘For Now’ and returns to a state of ‘Forever’.