Kassassin Street are a band on the up. They come from a revitalised Portsmouth music scene that is producing a whole wealth of new and young exiting talent. The band consist of Rowan Bastable, Nathan Hill, Ryan Hill, Andy Hunt and Tom Wells who come together to throw an energetic gauntlet of psychedelic pop at a fervent audience.

 

Worthing’s St Pauls Church looked glorious. Walking through the doors you were surrounded by a purple haze which filled the listed building, creating an even more ethereal atmosphere. Cessna Deathwish took to the stage, greeted by an anticipant crowd. The Brighton band of four originate from BIMM College, and unbelievably this was only their third ever performance. It must have been an amazing experience for a band, still very much in their infancy, and to play to a sold out crowd that filled the church. Their beautifully truthful lyrics and smart song structure hailed the power and passion of a Bright Eyes or Paulo Nutini show, sending shivers down the backs of a captured audience. The bands fantastic performance definitely affirmed themselves as ones to keep your eye on, as it looks like great things could be ahead for Cessna Deathwish.

 

Kassassin Street were met by an excited roar from a crowd already well and truly in the mood for what was to come. Smoke fills the stage with a blue glow filling the churches reredos behind, supercharging the atmosphere as they started up their energetic sound. All the best groups have a brilliant front man and Kassassin Street certainly have that in Rowan Bastable, darting through the lasers and wailing from left to right, keeping the crowd in the palm of his hand. All the best groups also have top notch musicians holding things together, and they certainly put in a very tight, polished and ample performance. The style of the sound and performance is very similar to Kassabian in the sense of the bands set up, and their music makes you want to jump around. Like Kassabian, Kassassin Street moved away from their Indie Rock sound to a more electronic bass synth and 4/4 beat, which was very well received and pushed the crowd to the next level with hands flailing in the air absolutely everywhere.

 

The owner of the venue said there were more people at this show than there was at recent shows with Ginger Baker and Arthur Brown, which is extremely impressive for a band that that is yet to release an album and another that has only released one single to their name. Not surprising though, as Cessna Deathwish confident sound would excited anyone, and Kassassin Street played another faultless show which had the crowd wanting much, much more.

Iain Lauder