Live Review : North Atlas + JACKALS + Telling Secrets @ Satan’s Hollow on September 28th 2023

Another first for me tonight, a gig at Satan’s Hollow and not just a gig, reviewing a gig no less. I haven’t stepped inside this venue since probably 2010/11 after Jilly’s Rockworld closed and those years have certainly flown by. I even got asked for ID last time I came here, though the Jilly’s membership card was the giveaway that I was definitely over 18 (and over 21, and over 30)!!! 

Originally scheduled to take place at the Star and Garter, I was looking forward to seeing the new Ian Curtis mural tonight (take a look next time you are near Piccadilly) but it’s great to be back to this old haunt and for anyone who has never been to Satan’s, it is a great venue with lots of cool adornments and the intimacy of tonight’s gig, while enjoying it with some of my mates, is much welcome downtime on a Thursday night. 

We are here early doors, and the place is fairly empty for the first support band, with only about 30 people, but as Telling Secrets take up their positions on the tiny central stage (that is usually the dancefloor) we are jolted from our chatter by the volume of the speakers. Hailing from Manchester but now living in LA, this emo-tinged rock trio have been producing music for two years but tonight is their first ever gig. They are very young, and I hate to think how old they were last time I was in Satan’s… Already receiving attention from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and with over 100,000 streams, there is not much interaction with the crowd, and while they are clearly nervous their enthusiasm shines through. Sadly, the backing track is drowning out the guitarist and every time vocalist Vik moves away from the mic his voice is not powerful enough and disappears. But I am aware that seems quite harsh criticism for a first live gig and despite the issues I still really enjoy their set and look forward to seeing them again with a bit more live experience under their belts. 

Before too long our next support band of the night, JACKALS, come to entertain us with their northern directness and straight-talking lyrics against the backdrop of nu-metal meets hardcore… with a healthy dash of grunge. Another three-piece (though according to their Facebook they are currently looking for a new bassist) they perform to a slightly fuller crowd and take us on a journey through songs about requited love, to unrequited loath (about capitalism with singer Thé urging the whole audience to join a union by going round and pointing at us all, a sentiment I wholeheartedly support) to a more obscure song about a tortoise in a vivarium! Based in Manchester, the band are clearly loving being here and Thé is very chatty, remembering drunken club nights at Satan’s and saying she has never been to a gig here either. She has a very powerful voice and gives off impressive Siouxsie vibes. But what gets my attention the most are the hard-hitting songs that tackle contemporary themes, which include “Shuggie”. This focuses on toxic masculinity and the objectification of women, highlighting how the trivialisation of this by men has a lasting negative impact on women’s mental health. Other songs focus on sexual assault, spiking and drug addiction. This band is definitely one to watch.

And then tonight I finally get to see our headliners for the first time. I have been listening to North Atlas for nearly four years but have always missed their shows (though I did camp right next to them at Download 2022 but don’t think I noticed until the final day). The place is a bit busier now, though not as busy as I expected but that really does not matter as those who are here are fired up and the atmosphere is highly charged. The band look equally as excited to be here, on this the second night of the tour and launch straight into new song “Dead Tree”. Initially it is quite hard to hear the vocals but after some adjustments it improves. 

Still a relatively new band, this four-piece from Glasgow treat the crowd to a polished and well executed hour-long performance through a 12-song setlist. There is not a lot of chatter as tonight the focus is on the music and when lead singer Leon finally speaks to comment on the decor, I’d almost forgotten they were Scottish. I recognise most of the songs, as do the audience who are dutifully singing and bouncing along and look to be loving every minute of the performance. 

The guitarist and bassist are both playing and triggering synth patches which works well, and they are mixed perfectly to blend in with their instruments. They do sound quite different live to their recorded sound, but I don’t view that as a bad thing, it’s just a rougher sound, with slightly less discernible layers to the vocals. For “Seer” they are joined by a “burryman” who enters the crowd with his drum positioning himself right next to me and what a sight to behold. And now I know what all that is about I understand why the stage was adorned with various foliage! 

The band have released a number of singles and EPs and the latest EP “The Longest Shadow Attached to the Ankle” came out at the end of September. Tonight, we hear four songs from this latest release including the sultry and atmospheric “Superego”, catchy earworm “House of Mirrors”, and they close their set with “fasterthanyourthoughts”. The night is over way too fast, and it feels odd leaving Satan’s completely sober just after 10pm rather than arriving at that time… but it’s been a fantastic night. I will be watching how the band progress over the coming months as with their unique sound and boundless energy I am sure they are set for great things. 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
North Atlas, JACKALS, Telling Secrets