Peace at Omeara

London Bridge’s packed Omeara presents Worcester-born band Peace as part of the VO5 NME Awards Shows 2018. The venue, created and opened by none other than Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett, is intimate, with a capacity of 350 people. Crumbling walls and cavernous arches add a decadent feel, making it one of the more exciting places to perform.

Opening the set with new single Power – a jaunty number – the four-piece tease the fans with a striking light show. Frontman Harry Koisser’s vocals are too loud, rendering him somewhat screechy, but this is saved by the gorgeous bass of his brother Sam, along with the electric guitar and drums of his fellow band members Doug Castle and Dom Boyce.

Money, from their 2014 album Happy People, sees Peace rock the South London venue, rousing the audience, who crowd-surf and form mosh pits left, right and centre. When Harry delivers an acoustic rendition of their new single, Kindness Is the New Rock ‘n’ Roll, it gives people a moment to catch their breath as they gaze intently at the stage. While performing 1998 from 2012 EP Delicious, the group are on top form, jamming away as if in their own studio space; the song is equally easy to drift off or dance to, the hard drums and sensual riffs making it one of the highlights of the night. The boisterous and bright guitar melodies return in the form of Bloodshake, making Peace sound a lot like fellow British bands Jaws and Swim Deep. With 2017 single, From Under Liquid Glass, the four-piece show that they are capable of creating melancholic tunes as well as those steeped in summery optimism, and the use of a loop also makes for an interesting sound. The buoyant final track, Lost on Me, is a fun way to end the concert and sets the tone for a night of partying.

Peace certainly know how to put on a rocking performance, though more could have been done to make their stage presence interesting and memorable. It can be challenging these days to make a niche in the highly competitive industry, but Koisser’s band have garnered ardent fans, playing an impressive, sold-out show. What stands out when listening to Peace is not so much the lyrics or even the vocals, but the music itself, which is fun and energetic, leaving all who listen with a warm, feel-good vibe.

Selina Begum
Photos: Mike Garnell

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

Watch the video for From Under Liquid Glass here: