REVIEW: Sundara Karma at Gorilla, Manchester

READING four-piece Sundara Karma are currently touring their psychedelic pop around the UK, and last Friday they packed Manchester’s Gorilla to capacity. Quays News entertainment reporter Alicia Boukersi went along…

Sweaty. Sticky. Spectacular.

These words perfectly embody the whole night – starting from waiting in the queue, which was made-up of teenagers who all smelled of alcohol mixed with perfume.

Inside the venue was sweeter, in every sense. The backdrop covered in glitter created a galactic atmosphere that gave everything a spacey edge. For a band as psychedelic as Sundara Karma, the venue was a good choice.

The night opened with promising Manchester-based band Pale Waves. The four-piece consists of Heather, Ciara, Hugo and Ryan and their style had “90s inspired indie-pop” down to a tee.

For such a young band, their stage presence was undeniable and they engaged their fans with their set, comprised of new self-written material. The audience were cheering along to their upbeat and catchy songs, showing that the band has massive potential to be a success. They also had a considerable turn out given their early slot.

The next warm-up act was Beach Baby, a London four-piece whose music is the definition of cool. Somehow they manage to capture elements of several genres– post-punk, pop and grunge – whilst still sounding great. Often clocking in at around two minutes, their clutch of songs were impressive despite being slight.

‘No Mind No Money’ was their most striking performance as everyone joined the hearty chorus and the head-banging that ensued. The lyrics discuss the magic of youth, and with the audience all looking under 25, it was very relatable.

Both of the eclectic acts seemed fitting before Sundara Karma’s headline slot, and drew in the attention of the audience throughout – two bands that truly represented the huge amount of talent in new, young bands.

As the small venue started to fill up, Sundara Karma took to the stage with front man, Oscar Lulu, looking like glam rock era Iggy Pop. The other members of the band, Haydn Evans (drums), Ally Baty (guitar) and Dom Cordell (bass), looked energised and provided a composed backing that radiated belief that the stage was theirs.

The first song performed was ‘Cold Heaven’ which was a great choice as it was received eagerly by a crowd who lapped up every note. Oscar captured the emotion in the song well, not only showcasing his vocal range, but the ability to bring lyrics to life.

and the best gig award goes to @SundaraKarma for smashing manchester to pieces

— lucy (@l_uu_c_y) March 5, 2016

On stage, there are dazzling strobes and a luminous backdrop. Off it, the audience bellows along with the riff to ‘Freshbloom’, a truly spiritual and infectious jam.

Their latest song, ‘A Young Understanding’, was extremely popular even though it had only been released 10 days prior. There was an unexpected power and potency in Oscar’s vocals, which make for really pleasant listening, and suited the band’s style.

Progressing through their set, Sundara Karma filled every song with as much passion and energy as the last.

‘Vivienne’ was like a rush of blood to head. Under the strobe lighting, every audience member was dancing around in frenzy to the upbeat synth and indie-pop melody.

Two years after releasing their first EP, the band still touched on their origins, with ‘Indigo Puff’. The band’s boundless energy, combined with catchy lyrics that the audience knows inside out would always be a success.

Their best-known single ‘Flame’ gathered the best response from the crowd, brimming with momentum and encouraging the audience to sing along to the chorus at the top of their lungs.

Next up was ‘Run Away’ which was an unforgettable track, not least because an audience member, hungry for attention, decided to jump on to the stage and hurl herself at the band. Sundara Karma played it off cool; Oscar managed to carry on singing and playing his guitar, and did not look mad.

After that hectic situation, the band decided to play a softer song, ‘Waves.’ The subtly melancholic lyrics were hidden behind calm verses, and made for a beautiful show.

‘Loveblood’ brought the set to a euphoric end. With a lustful vibe, the track raised the heartbeat of every crowd member, inducing the most enthusiastic and adrenaline-fuelled mosh-pit of the night.

All in all, Sundara Karma makes for a great live band, with a little something special about them. They will perform their next Manchester gig on April 2. Alternatively, they will be performing at Leeds Festival this summer and I, for one, can not wait.