Gig Review: The Rubics - Anthology Lounge [15/02/2019]
It’s a Friday night, and K Road is buzzing as we make our way towards Anthology Lounge, a new music joint that in recent weeks has become a favourite spot here at The Mousai. Tonight we’re heading along to see The Rubics, a band that first caught our attention opening for Ghost Who Walks, and we’ve been playing relentlessly since.
Psychedelic Blues band Mini Simmons are first up, and within the first few notes i’m mesmerised. It’s hard to tell exactly where the music begins, and where the musicians stop - as they all blend together into one beautiful universical arrangement.
The crowd is grooving along, but still frontman Zak Hawkins asks us all to come in a little closer, as he whips out a set of maracas to add some extra dimension to the sound. It’s incredible watching the band play around him, as both guitarist Brad Craig, and bassist Jesse Hawkins play as though their instruments are an extension of their body, swirling around and contributing some pretty tasty riffs into the mix. ‘Light your lighters! Light your phones! Just have a nice time!’ Zak encourages us all, and out comes a harmonica, swiftly followed by a tambourine - proving that his musical talent far extends being able to sing. Now that they’ve well and truly got our attention, they take the time to slow it down a bit, as Zak takes a seat on the edge of the drum kit, and Jesse takes over the vocals.
At times the lyrics are unnerving, as they begin a song about going insane - and a quick glance around the crowd shows that everyone is a bit unsure where this is going, but as the song continues, and the crowd gives in to the music, it’s clear that everyone’s lapping it up - allowing the music to truly take us on a trip into the depths of our minds. An honourable mention definitely goes towards drummer Yoni Yahel, who manages to hold down the tempo, whilst barely looking at his drums - his gaze moved around the stage as his fellow band mates build the sound, almost as if he was watching the notes travel throughout the air.
She Loves You take to the stage next, an all girl rock band, whom I’d previously only caught the end of their set opening for Decades back in August. I don’t think I realized exactly how much of a treat we were in for tonight, as front-woman Madeline Berry commands the stage effortlessly. It’s obvious just how much she loves being up there - throwing smiles at the camera, and dancing all up and around bassist Cassandra King, and guitarist Jessie Booth.
They break for a brief interlude, where Cassandra treats us all to a little bass solo, before quickly launching back into ‘I Want It’. I’m transfixed watching Katie Baya drum, as I've never seen anyone maintain such great beats, whilst also maintain such a huge grin on her face the entire time - pulling faces and grinning at her fellow band-mates whenever she catches their eye.
Introducing their new song ‘Dirty Orlean’ - which is coming out on March 29 - we’re treated to a new song, which is closely followed by a cover of Justin Timberlake’s ‘Sexyback’. The whole band demand our attention, as they whip through songs about tinder dates (that their friends went on) and serial killers, all full of sass and so much confidence you could bottle it up.
“This is so much fun!” Madeline remarks, thanking us one last time for coming out, and the crowd move in for one last little dance to ‘Get Out’.
Finally, The Rubics take to the stage, sans vocalist Rob Lardizabal Jatulan, who finds a dark corner of the crowd to hide in as the first few notes start up. Someone asks him why he isn’t up onstage, to which he quickly jokes “I’m not in the band anymore!” before swiftly moving up to take his place. Their music blends together soul, funk, pop, and rock and roll, and the crowd are lapping it up - grooving along to everything the band have to give us.
“It’s good to be back on this stage!” Rob calls out, thanking us all for coming out to dance, as they launch into ‘I Want To Do It Again’. For a band made up of 6 members, they somehow all manage to find enough room to comfortably dance on stage - and not a single person is standing still - you can feel their passion thick in the air, as they seamlessly blend through their setlist. Treating us all next with their latest single ‘Motherfunky Ride’ - the song that this inspired the creation of this whole tour.
The crowd is grooving and clapping along in time, encouraged by Rob who reminds us that “We’re the final act of the night! So like, go all out! Get sweaty!” - as if anyone needs any encouragement to sweat out their weekday worries on a Friday night. It’s here that I take a step back from the front, and move towards the back of the room - where I can properly appreciate the fact that Anthology Lounge has transformed into a dance hall, full of friends and strangers, all just having a wholesome groove on a Friday night.
Photos: The Rubics | She Loves You | Mini Simmons
Review by Mandie Hailwood Photography by Helena Barnett
