Every 137 seconds, a gig takes place in the UK, and gosh was I lucky to be at The Arches in Coventry on Saturday night. Dripfeed held their debut headline show on August 15th, and I have a LOT to say.

Kicking off the night were Satellite, a Stratford-upon-Avon-based hard rock outfit who certainly know their crowd. They opened with a favourite of many, Breed by Nirvana, immediately filling the room. Each musician displayed a high level of skill, coming across as cohesive and well rehearsed. The packed room made for an amazing reaction to the guitar solo, setting the tone for what was to come.

They swiftly moved through more covers, including Rebel Yell, showcasing Freddie’s (guitar/vocals) ability, and Maybe Tomorrow by Stereophonics. While this was a very well-executed set of covers, they still managed to add their own spin, with a drum solo from James that took the breath away from the crowd

They went straight into another classic, Velvet Revolver’s Slither, which really amped up the crowd and highlighted the vocal ability this band has to offer. The guitar tones were particularly fitting for the covers they selected, giving each song the weight it needed without feeling like a simple recreation.

If I had to sum these guys up in one sentence, it would be that they’ve found the perfect interaction between musical ability and fun. They clearly know how to entertain a room, and I’m looking forward to hearing what that looks like when they bring some originals into the mix.

The coveted Crxssed Out were next up to take the Arches stage, and they did not disappoint. Having seen these guys last month, I meant it when I said I was looking forward to seeing them again. My first thought when they started this set was that I could already hear the improvement in Saturn’s drumming, so hats off to her and her double kick! Oli’s voice sounded very sultry for this opener, paired with Tyler’s mask to create a really fun vibe.

Once again, the room filled up quickly. As we got “a bit more fucking heavy”, the song didn’t even get a chance to start before a mosh pit opened up. Oli really has a talent for frontman energy; he leads the crowd so effortlessly. As Tyler came down into the crowd, I swear to God there was not one stationary head in that room. I wish everyone a speedy recovery from their whiplash.

We were even treated to a new song, Narcissist, which is yet to be recorded. The vocals were akin to Bryan Garris of Knocked Loose, which I was a huge fan of. To say I was astonished by the row pit this song garnered would be an insult of an understatement. I have genuinely never seen a row pit that size at a grassroots show. 90% of that room was rowing away, and one can’t help but laugh. What was even more amusing was that people immediately stood up and created a wall of death at Oli’s command. This is what I would call a metalcore HIIT workout.

Now, it wouldn’t be a Crxssed Out set if we didn’t celebrate someone in the audience, and this time it was not an engagement but a birthday. Naturally, we heard a Crxssed Out version of Happy Birthday being sung. Everyone in that room seemed to not have a care in the world, completely at one with the atmosphere.

I have to reiterate that these guys are most definitely ones to watch. Their fanbase is incredible, and it’s amazing to see so many crossed-out faces in one room. I do hope that in the future they add a second guitarist into the mix, as I think this could elevate their sound even further.

Our headliners were highly anticipated, and they did not come to do anything but exceed expectations. For a debut gig, Dripfeed were very, very locked in. Opening with Dopamine, the vocals were extremely smooth, and they were immediately successful in filling the entire space with a full soundscape. Katie (drums) has a really good command of the instrument, and this paid off throughout the set.

As expected, a mosh pit appeared, with people having the time of their lives during Countdown. This high-energy, groovy number really worked its magic on everyone in the room. Ajax was absolutely killing it on bass, showcased beautifully on Fly, complemented very well by Oliver on guitar. These guys were really feeding off each other, and that chemistry came through in the sound.

Bloody Mary offered a slight change of pace for the audience, instead inciting mass two-stepping. These guys really know how to make people move without saying anything at all. That’s a skill, and they are well on their way to mastering it.

Now, a lot of bands cover songs and it’s usually a bit of fun, but if there was any band to cover Killing in the Name, it is Dripfeed. Ajax sounded absolutely insane for this cover, and that’s really the only way I can describe it. Honestly, you know the vibe is immaculate when cups of water need to be thrown into the mosh pit during a national drought.

Garryth’s (vocals) gritty tone really works with the style of music these guys create. Speaking of their style, I really respect their view on how they perceive their music: “We like rock, we don’t care what genre we play.” That’s how you know they’re just doing what makes them happy. However, my respect was soon lost when they did a Nickelback cover. I give it to them, though, they covered them very well.

It’s always important for artists to have the opportunity to talk about their motivations and the meanings behind their music, and I want to highlight and praise Garryth for having the courage to speak about his late father, who sadly passed away from cancer. To be able to channel the pure emotion surrounding such a tragedy is something I commend him for, and his message about spending enough time with your family is one of great importance.

Lifer was such a raw display of emotion that I feel privileged to have been in the room for it. This was definitely a standout song for its musicality, the emotion behind it and the message it carried. Dripfeed should be extremely proud of this track.

They ended the set so strongly that the crowd began chanting “Dripfeed”, as if they now have their own outro. For a debut performance, this was extremely well done and clearly well rehearsed. If these guys don’t play another show, I think I would be quite devastated.