As everyone crams into the tightly filled, sold out Band On The Wall to see Chalk, a quick glance will tell you everyone knows what they’re in for. This is a show where you are constantly rubbing shoulders with strangers, banging into the back of a mosh pit, and leaving drenched in your own sweat. Quite frankly, their gigs are f*cking mental.
Hailing from Belfast, Chalk’s genre-bending style means their live performances take on a completely unique life of their own. Part rave, part metal, part post-punk. It’s hard to nail down exactly what it is these three musicians are doing, but to attempt to define it only takes away part of the fun. As they take to the stage in Manchester, the crowd aren’t putting a label on it. They’re just waiting to have their heads blown off.
The band don’t waste any time in doing so either, fresh single ‘Afraid’ opens up the setlist and subsequently the mosh pits. A droning sample acts as buildup for what is one of the best guitar riffs of the year so far, which guitarist Ben Goddard simply can’t stand still for. It’s a song that can act as giving a perfect understanding of what the band is; noisy and intense, but overcome with personality and confidence.
As each song passes, frontman Ross Cullen shifts further into gear. Dressed in a bedazzled top and sunglasses, his performance grows stronger as the night goes on, effortlessly switching from spoken word to screams. Songs such as ‘Them’ and ‘Asking’ perfectly lean into his theatrics, parading around the stage as though possessed by his own writing. He’s an incredibly strong frontman, a necessary anchor for their act.
Breathers at the midway point of the set is common practice for heavier bands, but that doesn’t mean the performance comes to a halt. Songs such as ‘Pool Scene’ and ‘Bliss’ don’t rip up the stage with crunching guitar leads, yet still leave a lasting impression with their emotion given at hand. Switches in the dynamics of their performance show that they aren’t a one trick pony – they have an entire arsenal of noise at their disposal.
As they wrap up their set with ‘Conditions’ (arguably their strongest track), it’s hard not to feel fulfilled. Despite only playing for an hour, you couldn’t be blamed for feeling exhausted afterwards. Not only do Chalk pour so much emotion into their performance, but they invite you to do the same. They’re pushing the post-punk genre to its limits more than most, and their future is bright.
Words by Niall McGreevy