Heave - Saddo
Snap: Michael Sampson
When I hear the name Luke Mansfield, several things spring to mind. Some of those things are not of a nature that can be replicated here (you can’t bleep out audio on the written word). What I can mention here is the unforgiving, colourful sense of fashion, ridiculous hair styles by Sean Beck & Sides, which somehow Luke always makes work, and without effort at that. Unforgettable live performances on stage, and off stage, during the many gigs with Of Legions over the ten years of the bands life span. All of those things, I am grateful to say, don’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon, all apart from Of Legions, who sadly disbanded literally weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK.
I was heartbroken to say goodbye to a band which, in many ways, had been the staple band of my journey through local music; it was the one constant, and the final Of Legions show did leave me feeling a strange sense of emptiness. But through the shit storm that was the pandemic, the triple lockdown saw a new band emerge, with fresh energy, a certain vibrance which perhaps would spark a flame, a fire in the belly of Stoke’s local music scene once more.
Artwork: Jack Snelling
Heave have shot straight out of the gate with their debut single Saddo, a statement of intent to the world of their passion and ambition, delivering a song full of anger and resentment, and just as we have come to expect from four band members who can boast over forty years experience (and yet still somehow be in their mid 20’s) the musicianship has not been set aside for mere materialistic imagery or ego. Dan Cartlidge, who also drums with Freeza, forms a reliable partnership with former Of Legions basser Ollie Lewis, whose backing vocals will no doubt lend extra credence to the fact that Heave are not simply a band playing at being in a band. Heave guitarist Sam Taylor, also of Freeza brings powerful riffage which provides throughout, which leaves you foaming at the mouth for more, and hopefully we will be hearing more form Heave sooner rather than later.
Self proclaimed as a noise-punk quartet, Heave take their inspiration from Metz, Drug Church, Idles and Pissed Jeans, providing a refreshing blend for Stoke’s scene which can be appreciated across multiple genres, so long as they are appreciated whilst throwing cans of Red Stripe. If Saddo is a sign of things to come, then we might just have another great band blossoming from the reviving gardens of Stoke-on-Trent’s music scene.