GIG REVIEW: High Vis and Narrow Head at The Arts Club Liverpool - Tuesday 18 February 2025

Words and Photos: Richie Yates

We walk in to hear the last crashing chord from Step Beyond, we’re told it was a brief but intense set, next time hopefully.

This is our the second time this week seeing High Vis and Narrow Head having already caught them in Manchesters New Century Hall on Saturday. Whilst having a good idea of what to expect it has to be noted that Liverpool seems almost a ‘home crowd’ for High Vis and the packed out Arts Club seems to back that.

Narrow Head get Soundgarden and Smashing Pumpkins thrown at them as comparisons, there’s a lot of truth in this but they also have under their metal heart a swathe of heavy shoegazing drones and clashes of sounds going on. Its a sound that builds and holds then keeps the intensity holding. Sometimes its quite beautiful sometimes they let their metal inner core out and chunk away relentlessly. Its all quite overpowering and they have a large following in tonight who sing along with the (hardly audible) words.

The second High Vis hit the stage the crowd explodes. The crowd is a cross mix of followers of different genres. It’s obvious High Vis resonate with a great many. The band started with hardcore punk roots and this visceral vocal delivery rides atop all manner of instrumental styles. There’s a huge Manchester Baggy sound tempered with concise and tight instrumentation that one minute seems Stone Rose then hints of Glam rock from the guitars with chunks of The Fall inspired grooves and big chant along moments. To say they sound predominantly post-punk would be to sell the short, they go where they want musically and its all delivered intensely with a relentless rhythmic pulse that keeps the crowd moshing and jumping for their full set. The Arts Club may well have been too small a venue for them and it’s packed to the rafters and a ‘proper’ sweaty live experience with a core at the centre that keeps bouncing and smiling throughout. For someone who’d not seen High Vis live a week earlier it’s overwhelming and totally superb. A must see band, live is where they live.