It’s not often one sees a strong crowd forming at the early stages of a gig. Yet, this Friday evening at Fibbers was a striking exception that saw a tremendous crowd rallying from the offset to delight in the sounds of Pontefract five-piece Glass Caves, and their supporting acts, H.A.M and Siblings.
Opening the night to the packed venue was H.A.M, whose funky riffs immediately dissipated any tension in the room. They delighted our ears with chilled, swaying fusions of high ringing guitar and melodious improvisation. The band revealed a new track which was well-received and the final crescendo had heads in a spin. Their later set took us to a more atmospheric place, and was a nice surprise. The final song mixed screeching guitar and hammering drums for a powerful finale, and it was safe to say that the crowd was well and truly warmed up.
Siblings then kicked off and it was straight into warm-hearted indie – a delight of sweet harmonising and chords. Opening with ‘Fools’, they immediately set the good vibes going and the crowd responded with general swaying: we were like palm trees on a summer’s beach. Everyone, young and old, grooved to the sounds of what felt like a mix of Vampire Weekend and Dog is Dead. The band’s dreamy vocals were particularly showcased during the stripped-down sections, where their tight harmonies resonated off the walls. We streamed through their colourful set; from ‘Norway’ to ‘Colours’, it was impossible not to be touched by the infectious splendour of loose, fuzzy riffs and mellifluous vocals.
It was now time for the main meal, and after a suspenseful wait, the crowd erupted as Glass Caves took to the stage – and everything became far, far hairier. The band dived head-first into their energetic alt-rock, feeding the crowd with a pounding, chesty bass. The band oozed talent with ‘I Knew It’, a gem of a song which spills into an irresistible chorus. Bulldozing through the set, we were treated to ‘Safety Man’ and its fiery finale – a fusion of undulating guitar melodies and hammering drums.
By midway, it became obvious that Glass Caves had gone a little too hard, and technical difficulties loomed over us for a short moment. Before long, however, the sounds were back, and a renewed energy stormed the crowd. The growling bass proved too much for some, with a few resorting to fingers as earplugs. Yet, the band rattled on, doling out endless tunes. ‘This Road’ was a personal favourite and seemed popular with the crowd, with everyone now moving about in loose jigs. The set rolled out into many crashing crescendos until the boys found themselves before a booing crowd after the words, “this is our last song.”
‘Eboracum’ was our finishing treat. Chants of “We want more!” quickly filled the room and the band returned with ‘Match’, the grand finale ringing in our ears long after the band made their exit.
With ears screaming, the crowd was, perhaps, glad for a break. Glass Caves certainly didn’t allow any such rest, with no real ‘come down’ songs. A more rounded set might have been nice, but no one was complaining, and all exited with the lasting buzz the local lads had given us. The performance was all kick and all punch. I don’t doubt that they would rock a Glastonbury stage with the same electricity as they brought to Fibbers. These boys are certainly set for much bigger things. See you at Glasto, Glass Caves.