UK bands have confidence. They have a self-image. They have an attitude. Maybe it‘s a cultural thing, but while bby (pron. „Baby“) and later Chalk ripped through Zurich‘s Exil club, it became undeniable how much meaner and uncompromising their performance was compared to many Swiss bands. We Swiss are too nice people.
And this magic charisma sauce isn‘t related to any specific genre.
London‘s bby are the talk of the town right now, and they delivered an exuberant performance with their undefinable sound. Teenage angst and passionate love manifest in post-punkish indie rock, bloom bright in sticky funk vibes, and melt away in the jazzy sun. But somehow, this seemingly incompatible mix comes alive.
Sounding a thousand times harder, louder, and fuller, bby conquered the hearts of the packed club in no time. Experimental, extended instrumentals escalated in ecstasy.
I went into the club hanging by a thread and came out feeling like I’d just drank from the holy grail.
Then, Chalk. An entirely different beast. Hardened, angry, angsty, unforgiving. A stomping post-punk, blended with razor-sharp techno. Blinded by strobing lights, flickering synth melodies twitched through the wall of sound like electric sparks in a stormcloud. Industrial noise, atonal shouts, raw emotion.
While bby were jovial and outgoing, Chalk synchronised the even denser-packed club with almost violent anger and a coldhearted distance fitting the sound‘s harsh reality. Chalk opened a valve, channelled all the pain and morphed it into cathartic energy.
Both bby and Chalk brought everything they had and put it on the table. Take it or leave it. Exceptional sound, captivating performances, and honed skills. And they spread an invigorating confidence in their artistry.
