A week ago, The Utopiates played the final leg of their UK tour at London’s iconic 100 Club. Fresh from the critical acclaim of their debut album ‘The Sun Also Rises’, could they cement their place in the hearts and minds of the packed London crowd.
Images courtesy of Elena Torrano
Last October they headlined This Feeling’s ‘Test Transmission’ night with The Velvet Hands, Holy Youth Movement’, and The Facades. It marked the departure of a band in its infancy to one of main stage ready. A headliner had been born.
The months since have witnessed an array of fine singles championed by Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy. All that they needed now was, the people. Neither failed to disappoint at the 100 Club.
Josh Redding’s psychedelic intro to the set was nothing short of breathtaking. Regaling in the warped magic of Hendrix, his icy cold veins remained unmoved by the occasion whilst a sense of greatness became tangible all around him. The plucky upstarts from Shiiine On’s Summer party in 2021 were now in full Darth Vader mode announcing, “now I am the master”.
The Utopiates, like The Charlatans, Primal Scream, or The Stone Roses before them are a band of brothers. At any point, one of them can step into the limelight to prove their worth and, on ‘Making History’ they demonstrate this collective power. Luke Nottingham’s killer bassline signals to the audience to get moving whilst frontman Dan Popplewell brings punks fire to his message of now or never. Together they create a welcoming defiance that is made undeniable by Ed Godshaw’s Rob Collins-esque keys and the effortlessly fluid Joe Jeffreys. The funk and punk is all blown sky high once Redding steps forward with his ecstatic release of Hendrix via Squire and Prince guitars.
Despite Redding’s prowess, The Utopiates are not just another guitar for the landfill. On ‘Illumanise’, they blend the 00s nu-rave scene with the early 90s baggy scene for a moment of groove-laden joy. Then, they do something truly special on the latest single ‘Ups and Downs’. Sounding like a rave classic from the early 90s, they set fire to the crowd who in turn scorch the 100 Club in pure hedonism. Popplewell strutted in unison with the crowd as Godshaw’s classic piano looped as per the single but, in the closing moments, a glorious descent into the post-apocalyptic world of Primal Scream’s ‘XTRMNTR’ emerged. It married so well with the darker moments of the set and pointed to an intoxicating future.
The Utopiates, like all great bands are desperate. For your attention, love, and ultimately, to survive as a creative gang. On this showing, they are on the precipice of having everything they have ever dreamed of.
You can buy their debut album ‘The Sun also Rises’ here https://merch.theutopiates.com/products/the-sun-also-rises-album-pre-sale