Laish at The Wilmington Arms

Five-piece folk rock band from Brighton Laish are following in the footsteps of other great folk rock groups, such as Mumford & Sons and Noah and the Whale, and playing at The Wilmington Arms. The show is one of nine dates on their April tour, and follows the release of new album Obituaries last month.

When Laish take to the stage the audience comes alive; it is clear from the turnout and excitement in the room that the band has received a reasonable sized cult following since its formation five years ago.

All that can really be said about their performance is that it is nice to watch. It’s not ground-breaking or exciting, simply enjoyable. Their dreamy, fuzzy set just blends into one as each slow tempo, quiet song follows another while the audience stands and occasionally sways throughout. There is no stadium-sized anthem that other artists of the genre have achieved – the problem is that they haven’t got the necessary kick (like Mumford & Sons and arguably The Lumineers) to get those feet stamping and those fists pumping.

However, frontman Daniel Green’s ability as a vocalist as well as a songwriter outshines the lack of vigour in the set. His lyrics are honest and brutal, but with a hint of humour, and in the hushed surroundings each word can be identified and processed by the audience (unlike most louder, brasher artists whose words are lost beneath the noise). His voice is rich with emotion, ranging from a deep and warm sound to a loud falsetto with the ability to convert from one to the other with ease. This is perfectly showcased in Carry Me, from their new album. Along with Petty Ruiner and Discipline, Carry Me shows that the band has the potential to hit the loud notes with massive choruses.

All in all, if Laish continue to perform sets of this standard and perhaps get a few noisier and faster tracks under their belt, we could see them this time next year headlining at much bigger venues and reaching out to a much larger audience. 

James Alder
Photos: Marga Moner

For further information and future events visit Laish’s website here.

Watch the video for Carry Me here: