Live Review: VANT at Plug, Sheffield 23/04/2016

Taking a trip to Sheffield for cheap gigs is becoming a bad habit but when you can see one of the liveliest up and coming bands for £9 it would be rude to say no.

Listening to the few tracks VANT have on Spotify, on the train up to Sheffield, and convincing an old friend to come with us in Wetherspoons before the gig only heightened my excitement for the night. Although arriving slightly late, I was slightly disappointed I didn't get chance to see Get Inuit - an exciting, young band with a sound of fresh, fuzzed indie rock.

As the stage time for VANT approached, the crowd in the smaller room of Plug swelled a little. It wasn't a sell out but once the gig got underway the energy of the crowd made up for the lack of numbers. A somewhat contained start with The Answer - a political stab at modern warfare and media perception - got the crowd moving a little, then a couple of newer tracks (Put Down Your Gun, Birth Certificate and I Don't Believe In God) followed. However, once VANT tore through debut single Parasite in less than 2 minutes, the crowd finally let down their hair and threw themselves into the beer soaked pits.

Speaking of hair, Sex Pistols influenced and long haired lead singer Mattie Vant commanded the stage. He wasn't afraid to throw himself, his hair or his guitar around the stage, great to see from a band who pride themselves on their refined live performance. As charismatic as Mattie Vant was, I was particularly impressed with the guitar work of lead guitarist Henry Eastham. His skilled playing complimented the sharp, hard-hitting lyrics and guitar of the lead singer providing beefy, brash and bold garage rock.

Personal highlights were new tracks Peace and Love and Karma Seeker (which I'd like to hear recorded versions of) as well as most recent single Fly-By Alien, which elicited the best response from the crowd. Mattie preaching about the importance of the youth of the generation and their passion for music - helping the band to do the job they love - mid song was responded to with fervent cheers and another mosh pit. Although his carefully chosen words show just how perceptive an individual he is, leading a band that could go far -and deserve the chance to - in a tough, corrupt music industry.

It was a shame they didn't have time to play their cover of Rihanna's Work, although for a band on Day 19 of a flying UK tour the performance was both tight and energetic.

Overall 7.5/10