On Saturday 23rd of March, the gothic and macabre vibe of the night ahead is palpable before doors have even opened. The streets are lined with fans, clad in black denim and leather jackets, wearing faces of makeup and occasionally fake blood (reflecting a similar appearance to that of the ‘vampire’ band) as they wait eagerly under an almost full moon – a fitting appearance – as the time approaches for Creeper to take the Sheffield stage again for the first time in eight years.
Since releasing their newest album Sanguivore last October, the Southampton band is back with their 12 days of night tour, promising a series of intimate shows across parts of the UK that are rarely visited. These choices of venues would only evidently serve to boost Creeper’s well-established charisma and infectious energy, making this a memorable night for people new to the band’s performance and long-time fans alike.
Tonight, on the eighth show of their run, the three-band line-up lands themselves at a sold-out show at the city’s longest-running venue The Leadmill. The room is full by the time the opening band NAUT take the stage to begin the night. Immediately upon arrival, the most eye-catching aspect is vocalist Gavin Laubscher’s sparkling biker jacket, glittering in the low light against the dark curtain of the background. A few heads start to bob along, as the band plays a series of songs that feel reminiscent of a 70s or 80s movie soundtrack, with films like The Lost Boys coming to mind. Throughout the night, the post-punk Bristol band’s use of synths and drum machines helps to establish a slow and dark atmosphere that is easy to get lost in and pretend you are a part of one of those films.
Continuing the ambience, as even more people file onto the venue floor, London duo Zetra grace the stage in a similar fashion. Like the opening band, Zetra is captivating through their chosen attire, cladding long dark robes and corpse paint, with the addition of their stage design to complete their look. Both members of this group are stationed behind synths and microphone stands embellished with chains as well as a semi-transparent tarp, depicting a scene of lightning strikes, that is precisely illuminated with bursts of red and blue light from behind. The duo arguably brings a darker vibe, with heavier rifts and the occasional anguished screams, but mixed with the similar flowy synths and drum machines as before, once again immersing the audience in the storytelling and gothic atmosphere that this tour has to offer.
Lastly, the highly anticipated return of Creeper is finally due to embrace the stage. Even before the band has made an appearance, their carefully chosen playlist intensifies the excitement, as the whole room sings along and dances to the soundtrack of Rocky Horror, until eventually the lights go dark, and the six-piece band commence their set with the first single from their latest album Cry To Heaven. Their energy is immediately reflected within the audience, as the crowd enthusiastically echoes the chorus line whilst breaking into a flurry of movement, which is only amplified with the addition of faster songs, like ‘Poison Pens’, as even a few crowd surfers join the movement throughout. At several moments within the evening, vocalist Will Ghould’s witty rapport with the audience supplied plenty of laughs and jokes to fill gaps between songs and keep everyone entertained beyond the music.
Even on the contrary, the band also played a selection of their more melodic and emotional songs like ‘I Choose to Live’, ‘Misery’ and ‘The Ballade Of Spook & Mercy’, sprinkled throughout their set, that continued to keep fans captivated despite the change in tone, as the room is as determined as ever in singing every word. One song in particular, ‘Misery’ from their first album Eternity, In Your Arms, has fans taking the lead on several versus – a well-established tradition at a Creeper show – as the audience continues the bridge without the aid of instrumentals or vocals. The atmosphere is remarkable, to say the least.
Towards the end of the show, the room is continuously filled with chants of ‘Vcr’, as fans even demand an additional song before the final song has even stopped playing. The audience is met with a promise from the band’s vocalist for their return to the city – hopefully without making them wait another eight years. However, it can be said that this tour was worth the wait.
