LIVE REVIEW ALTERNATIV EGRUNGE LIVE

A Saturday night in Nottingham is always vibrant, whether you’re hitting the town for the bars and clubs or, in this particular case, making your way into one of their independent venues for an evening of great music and cheap pints before 8pm. GREG PUCIATO is a man who has graced stages in the UK on many occasions, from his tours with the frenetic THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, his more electronic-inspired supergroup THE BLACK QUEEN or, most recently, with the majority of the band formerly known as EVERY TIME I DIE in the most excellent BETTER LOVERS. However, tonight is his first ever tour of these shores billed as just him, which makes things all the more special.

Trace Amount live @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham. Photo Credit: Abbi Draper-Scott

Opening his shows is TRACE AMOUNT, the one man project conceived by Brooklyn-based producer, vocalist and visual artist Brandon Gallagher. There are four elements to his set – one man, one microphone, one sound/sample board and one drum pad. His wares? A potent blend of industrial, cybergoth, darkwave and aggrotech – think COMBICHRIST combined with AUTHOR & PUNISHER and the heavy end of early THE PRODIGY. It’s intense and unsettling, helped out by the abrasive light production: largely strobes and bright, white spots, they are very complimentary to the aural assault that’s happening, aiming – and succeeding – to disorientate those who have turned out to see this one-man project bound about an otherwise empty stage and bring his creations to life. Nobody in the audience is falling over themselves, but there’s nothing even remotely negative in response either; overall a good half hour set.

Rating: 7/10Greg Puciato live @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham. Photo Credit: Abbi Draper-Scott

GREG PUCIATO, of course, needs little to no introduction. Walking out in a shirt, tank top and three-quarter length, faux leather trousers which – well, they’re a choice – he immediately transforms into the rampant ball of chaotic energy he was known for when fronting DILLINGER as opening song Force Fed opens what turns into a bruising seventy minute set. However, it’s definitely harnessed chaos: at no point is Greg out of control or unsafe with his actions or movements, which makes his energy and presence all the more encapsulating. He’s occasionally a little hard to understand in between songs, but he’s otherwise exactly who we know him to be: a very likeable fella, albeit one who will scream into a microphone a few moments later.

The bulk of his material comes from 2020 release Child Soldier: Creator Of God, ably supported by his 2022 record Mirrocell and FC5N, a surprise release EP at the beginning of the year. Highlights are plentiful, but its hard to overlook the crushing power of Do You Need Me to Remind You? and the raucous power of No More Lives To Go. He’s also brought along an exceptional backing band, describing them as a “bunch of good mates…except Jeff the bassist, he’s basically the mascot at this point”. Then, just when we think he’s done for the night, a curveball of the highest proportions. “This was written by one of my friends,” explains Greg. “He’s called Jerry Cantrell; this is Them Bones“. Needless to say, he nails it, throwing himself into the crowd with that reckless abandon we love him for. Job well done.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Nottingham from Abbi Draper-Scott here:
























































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