A welcome visit to the UK from their native Texas by Ringo Deathstarr and support Blushing saw the second date of the tour hit Birmingham. Geoff Shaw was there for RESOUND.
In a week when live music has made the headlines and not always for the right reasons, it was refreshing to head well away from the turmoil of T*cketmaster and stadium gigs to the more compact surroundings of Academy 3. Whilst not a household name, Ringo Deathstarr have acquired a strong cult following in their nineteen years and five albums of being, one that eagerly greeted them for their first visit to these shores since 2016.
As such it is an expectant room that welcomes support band Blushing, fellow Texans on their first UK visit, to the stage. The four piece comprising two couples, vocalist/guitarist Michelle Soto, drummer Jacob Soto, vocalist/bassist Christina Carmona, and guitarist Noe Carmona, are straight into it from the off with “Tamagotchi” from latest album “Sugarcoat”. Often classed as Shoegaze or dream pop, the hints of Lush with the dual female vocal drift round a slightly heavier sound with the platform offered by Christina and Jacob giving the platform for Noe’s guitar work to shine from the shadows. The energetic eleven song set draws from all three of their albums to date and is well received – you would hope there will be more visits to this side of the Atlantic.
There is barely time to grab a drink or visit the merch before the headliners take the stage launching straight into “Swirly”. Formed in 2005 by singer/guitarist Elliot Frazier with a line up completed by long standing members Alex Gerhing on bass/vocals and drummer Daniel Coburn, Ringo Deathstarr clearly prefer to let their music do the talking with stage swathed in low light and shadow from which the sound permeates the room. Again, the cap of Shoegaze could fit if considered from a My Bloody Valentine view point – Frazier’s wielding of his Jazzmaster is particularly Shields-esque – but there is plenty of nuance to the tones and sound generated. Whilst Coburn is frequently a blur of grey hair and sticks behind the kit, Gehring offers a cooler presence, finger picking her bass lines and layering in vocal interplay with Frazier around the twenty song set that draws heavily on last two albums, 2020’s self-titled and “Pure Mood” from 2015. All in all it is an entrancing combination and clearly a band that is using its years of experience together to deliver something sonically special. Whether segueing into “Champagne Supernova” in closer “Tambourine Girl” triggered any PTSD for those present who had suffered for hours over the weekend is moot – given the choice between seeing O*sis or Ringo Deathstarr, I’d hands down be erring for the latter.
The tour continues:
- 4th September – Glasgow Stereo 22
- 5th September – Manchester Deaf Institute
- 6th September – London O2 Academy Islington
- 7th September – Brighton Dust
Words and photos: Geoff Shaw
IG: @gsmusicphotos