Concert Review: Wailing Banshee Turn Up the Heat at Nice n Sleazy
Some bands are names you hear mentioned a few times before you finally get the chance to see them for yourself. Wailing Banshee were one of those bands for me. I’d heard of the Manchester outfit and had heard plenty about their live shows, but until Thursday night at Nice n Sleazy in Glasgow, I’d never actually seen them perform.
Originally planned for the basement, the show was moved upstairs into the bar area, making for a much smaller and more intimate setting than originally intended. In the end, though, I think it worked perfectly for Wailing Banshee. The band were right up close to the crowd, and a few songs in the crowd had moved close and there was a real feeling of everyone being part of the same room rather than simply watching a band from a distance.
From the moment they took to the stage, it was clear that Wailing Banshee are a band who know how to put on a live show. They play proper heavy metal, bringing plenty of classic influences into a more modern sound, and they deliver it with a huge amount of energy.
Front and centre is vocalist Dani Louise, who is impossible to ignore. With a powerful voice and a stage presence that fills the room, she spent the set working the crowd and clearly enjoying every minute of it. That enthusiasm was quickly returned, with the audience getting fully behind the band as the night went on.
The twin guitar attack of Harry Derbyshire and Al McKenzie gives the band plenty of firepower, while Richie Parkhouse on bass and Sean Murphy on drums keep everything locked in behind them. Despite the relatively tight surroundings upstairs, the band never seemed restricted, throwing themselves into the performance and making the most of every bit of space available.
What really stood out to me was the energy between the band and the crowd. There was no feeling of a barrier between the two, and the smaller room actually seemed to add to the atmosphere. Wailing Banshee have the sort of sound that deserves a big stage, but there was something special about seeing them this close up.
This was my first time seeing Wailing Banshee live, and I came away understanding why I'd heard so much about them. They are clearly a band putting the work in, and there is a confidence and tightness to their performance that suggests they are more than ready to start making their way onto bigger stages.
For a band I'd only previously known by name, Wailing Banshee certainly made an impression. The change of room may not have been part of the original plan, but on this occasion, having them upstairs at Nice n Sleazy made for a loud, energetic and seriously enjoyable night of heavy metal.
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