Tonight we’re here to see King Hannah, a very promising duo comprising of Craig Whittle and Hannah Merrick. Their debut LP ‘I’m not Sorry, I was just being me’, has just been released to widespread critical acclaim.
The Merseyside band are just winding up a European Tour and they’re back to play the final night to a hometown audience at Liverpool’s Zanzibar Club.
Before the headliners, first up on stage are well known Wirral based band, By The Sea who are is promoting their latest album ‘Heaven Knows Magnolia’. Their quirky blend indie and electronica has echoes of fellow nautically minded indie overlords, Seapower. Well worth checking them out if the chance comes along.
At 9.15 on the dot, King Hannah arrive on stage in expanded form with the line-up supplemented by a bass player and drummer. A Welsh flag is draped around Hannah Merrick’s microphone leaving no doubts about her celtic origins.
Starting with the distinctive guitar intro of ‘Well made Woman’. The minimalist guitar together with absorbing drumming and chilly vocal is a fantastic start to the evening.
The next is a Bruce Springsteen cover ‘State Trooper’. After short interval for some guitar fettling, the band are back with ‘The Sea has the Stretch Marks’ from the pre album EP ‘Dreamy Sounds’. Lo Fi guitars mixing with Hannah’s unique voice create absolute unity.
Despite the low tempo nature of the songs the audience is drawn in my the hypnotic rhythms and seedy guitars as they weave a web of musical intrigue.
Next up is ‘Foolius Caesar’, Channeling the vibes of ‘Dummy’ era Portishead, the drums with base line have a leading role on this one and I feel like I’m back in the 90s once again. The track build to into a wall of fuzzed out guitar until suddenly, a brutal silence. By far it’s the strongest track of the night so far.
Instrumental ‘Berenson’ was the next song which perfectly complimented mood of tonight’s evening.
By the time we get to ‘Go-Kart Kid’ it’s clear the band are beginning to enjoy themselves. It’s another killer track, the tension builds and Craig’s unleashes a set of monster riffs towards end of the song, it’s phenomenal.
‘Big Big Baby‘, single from the latest album is next and is followed by ‘I am not sorry, I was just being me’.
‘The Moods That I Get In’ is next which features a distinct rhythm change in the middle of the song creating space for another exceptional guitar solo.
The biggest hit in my opinion is one of the first songs written by this talented duo. ‘Crème Brulee’, a 6 minute long love song is an absolute triumph.
‘Meal Deal’ another early track is closely followed by last track of the night, ‘It’s me and you Kid’. It leads into a communal sing along, ‘I am all, I am ever gonna be’ echoes out into the streets creating a perfect ending to a perfect evening.
Tonight confirmed what those in the know already knew, King Hannah are an extremely talented and original band.
Definitely one to watch!
Words and Pictures: Tom Adam @tomadampics