The evening has a strong start with an engaging support act in the form of Wax Machine. Offering up shamanistic 60’s psychedelia, the group includes a saxophone and their own tambourine player/dancer a la Bez from the Happy Mondays. Their front man throws his body around like Jagger performing some obscure ancient ritual and the crowd’s attention is assuredly held.

 

The absurdly young Tuval Schneerson’s sound cursively brings together a contemporary indie sound with the best bits of the 60’s. The recordings on the ‘Obscure Salvation’ EP that tonight is in aid of are slight and delicate, with something of the sensitive singers songwriter to them. But when translated live, Tuval’s sound is much heavier, at some points reminiscent of Hendrix, using his pedal board to create walls of noise and feedback without letting the energy drop for a moment

 

That is until one point where the music stops for Tuval to recite some poetry. Reading from a moleskin notebook and a jazzy drumming pattern as accompaniment, all that’s missing is some black roll necks and the room to be full with cigarette smoke and the 50’s beat poet atmosphere would be complete. It’s a slightly self-indulgent move, but it shows a young talent bursting with ideas to get out and different avenues he wants to explore, even if they aren’t all as equally successful. Eventually the free verse evolves into a crooning melody and the gig continues at the same pace where it left off

 

They deliver a blistering cover of The Doors’ classic ‘Break on Through (To the Other Side)’, with Morrison’s alluring baritone replaced by Tuval adding a sense of urgency and panic with his tense delivery. He effortlessly juggles complicated guitar parts with his singing responsibilities throughout the evening. At the request of the other band members they move into an improvisational jam session. “Choose a note!” exclaims the bassist of The Heights and away they go. It goes off effortlessly, the playing is incredibly tight and shows a group of musicians who are very comfortable in each others company, able to read each other for subtle shifts in where the improvisation is going. Tonight Tuval has demonstrated a confidence and self-assurance that is well passed his years in both his playing and his vision for the music he creates. But maybe save the poetry for a collection.

Louis Ormesher
Photo by Gili Dailes