On the 17th November the Black Tiles were headlining a show at the Vulture Lounge to promote the release of their first EP, 'In Forever'.
The Vulture Lounge on the Rosemount Viaduct was pulsing at capacity on the 17th November, vibrating in anticipation of the opening act, Vansleep, to begin the overture of the night.
After only a year together, the Black Tiles were headlining a show to promote the launch of their first EP; 'In Forever', with 3 songs from an intrinsically contrastive band, who decisively make a sound out of well-informed genre reimagining.
As the crowd comply the entry fee to the event and begin descending into the venue, the bands circulate the quaint venue, mingling and speaking with their fans, friends and family that have come along to support and purchase merchandise for the upcoming bands.
In speaking to some of the attendees, it became clear that many of them have seen the Black Tiles several times in the last few months, giving the impression that these guys have some momentum that’s been running on for some time now and an impressively dedicated fanbase.
The opening act, Vansleep hit the stage and after some slightly more melodic ‘miss-you’ original hits, started stringing their way through a miraculously mature and pronounced setlist, given the young age range in the band. They started the engine and it’s clear within a very short time why they were asked to open for the launch night, even the most reticent were tapping feet and swarming the stage within a couple songs.
After a short break between band changes the basement venue is sparked alight at the opening chords of 'Forever', a part title track for the Black Tiles’ EP, which takes a quality of the sharp, grinding grunge technique polished into the opening riff.
There was almost an element of early Yeah Yeah Yeah’s to lead vocalist Tilly’s, voice - charged and potent, but with an audible tender vulnerability that makes itself known in the caustic admission of unrequited love, that is 'Frequencies'.
Faithful to form, the band continued to produce a well-balanced and diversely influenced sound, performed to an admirable level, received in due credit by the audience’s response. In no time of the band hitting the stage, it’s clear the venue was full to capacity and swathes of people are pushing their way as close to the front as physically possible.
In closing the show there were numerous calls for more, to which there are a few covers performed - to raucous applause. Intimacy is evident in the closeness of the venue, and in this case, only assisted in creating more of an atmosphere of palpable intensity, considered and bereft of pomposity, it really is rare to see such candid impressiveness in a young band achieving so well.
With a host of shows ongoing to support the EP release, this band are set to continue climbing up the ranks, when they’re back performing in Aberdeen again – get a ticket, and if you can – get a copy while stocks last!
