After catching Calva Louise on their last visit to Nottingham, supporting Cassyette at Rescue Rooms, there was no way on earth that Izzy Morris was going to be missing their Bodega headliner...
I’d never encountered Trunc before the gig, but their set certainly piqued my curiosity. Combining sharp-tounged wordy, almost rap-like lyrics with alternative pop and rock sounds, this queer three-piece are definitely ones to watch. They also had us singing along for their last track BORED which absolutely had us wanting ‘more, more, more’.
And then there’s Gen. I’d have flocked to Bodega just to see them to be entirely honest. Gen and the Degenerates brought their A-game to their set with energy to boot. They bring a non-binary edge to alt punk as well as an upfrontness and a confidence that’s so exciting to watch. They were entirely comfortable bringing us into their world, detailing their difficulties with the way that sales and marketability end up dictating creative output, and celebrating the other non-binary audience members. More than anything, it looked like they were having an absolute blast, which was perfect for warming up the crowd for the main event.
Calva Louise. This three-piece band, bringing together talents from Venezuela, France and New Zealand, know how to raise the roof. They have an incredibly tight creative vision with the work they create, even bringing light up set pieces on each side of the stage with their triangular logo that combines sci-fi and satanic symbolism. They opened their set with Euphoric, which carries a title that very accurately describes how I felt for the duration of the evening.
Frontwoman Jess is a force to be reckoned with. I am in awe of both her ferocious vocals, and her gorgeous tone in other, less biting places. She has the stage presence of a true rock star minus all the arrogance, being incredibly humble in between songs, making sure to show her gratitude towards their audience for all of the support. The band share our frustrations with the world, encouraging a more welcoming atmosphere, all while remaining incredibly earnest and approachable. It’s really lovely to see.
They made a point to recognise the musical journey they’ve been on since their first album, Rhinoceros, collating a set list that merges both where they are now and where they’ve been. They also even looked into the future, playing two unreleased tracks, Human Becoming and Square One, that rocked my socks off. Fans of the band should be incredibly excited for what’s to come, and fans that are only just hopping on this sci-fi metal core bandwagon are joining us at a great time.
Their first sneak peaks at their upcoming mixtape, Over The Threshold, really showcased that progression and musical journey that the band have been on, leaning further into the heavier side of life which was exactly what the doctor ordered for me. Fans are definitely in for a treat. If what I’ve heard so far is anything to go for, the title of the mixtape is entirely apt; things are heating up.
I received a much-needed dose of catharsis from the Bodega mosh pit that night – the intimate Notts venue has been the perfect place recently for me to see some more heavycore bands, for example ALT BLK ERA and Scowl. Calva Louise put on a killer show, and I thoroughly encourage you to catch them next time they come and pay us a visit.
Calva Louise performed at The Bodega on 23 May 2023.
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