The Old Blue Last takes over Sebright Arms for a series of intimate gigs throughout March.

Just judging by the emojis used leading up to this St. Patrick’s Day carnage you can tell it will be one for the rowdy ones. Packing together a deadly line-up of Broadbay, Birdskulls and Abattoir Blues, headlined by non-other than ultimate grunge dream, Bloody Knees, this Sebright Arms gig is destined for greatness.

The floor is already sticky with Guinness and glass as the last warm up of the night, Abattoir Blues, finish up their ramshackle set. It’s all clear for the bad boys of the night, Bloody Knees to take their acclaimed spot as the masters of chaos.

The moshpits are a fact from first crooning guitar riff, the staggering tunes of Bloody Knees slaying the thick air, and having the crowd ballistic within the first verse.

It really is “St. Fucking Patrick’s day”, as frontman Bradley Griffiths informs, egging on the crowd to do whatever they want. Bassist Sam Conway counterpoints Griffiths’ energetic persona with his stoic nature and steady lines. It is a band in full balance, with themselves and their audience.

The collective euphoria sees the boys of Bloody Knees plough through numbers from their 2014 release, EP, Stitches, as well as freshly recorded material. They’ve got more coming as Griffiths informs before bashing into another down and dirty tune, everything we’ve come to expect from the Cambridge gang.

The melodic hooks intertwined with the raw gritty nature of their songs reflect a dual understanding that is showcased in the band’s live presence, giving them a distinct appeal. This also gives a consecutive understanding on which Bloody Knees meet their fans. The collective experience of their show feels as much as interacting with a living breathing organism, as well as a complete madness of a live set.

It is fast, it’s furious and it is a bit fucked up, everything you want for your regular Friday night. The ultimate state of a live show, with equal compassion and recklessness laced in together. The engaging atmosphere, so utterly precious you just have to experience, opening your sense to sweaty grossness and marvellous delight.

The complete honesty in Bloody Knees presence, the unpretentiousness in what they do reflects in every state of their being as a band. From the flamboyantly stern drumwork to the enthusiastic sting of the guitars colliding, Bloody Knees know their place and sound to the fingerspitzengefühl.

“Jump on, jump off, just please stay clear of the pedals,” Bradley encourages the head banging, stagediving masses. The crowdsurfers are plastered to the low ceiling, glass is shattered, bruises made, it is a total rampage in the best possible way. As their most established tune, Daydream soars over the crowd, the infectious nature of their set sees a complete sense of symbiosis through these settling chords. “Head in the clouds, think out loud”, Griffiths half screams with his raspy vocals. And it is seemingly a stream of consciousness we all want to follow in this moment.

It’s refreshing seeing a band so completely lost in the utter bliss of just doing what they do. It sucks you in and even at the most crucial points of introducing new work, Bloody Knees manage to engage.

As your humble narrator takes to quote the band’s Stitches: “But I’m covered in blood, but at least I’m having fun” stumbling home, blooded knees and everything, the band of the night has manifested themselves in every possible way.

Photos: Aurora Henni Krogh