Two immense bands for the price of 1 - Dead Pony & Kid Kapichi rule
the Foundry in Sheffield

★★★★★ (5/5)

KID KAPACHI PERFORMING AT SHEFFIELD’S FOUNDRY
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST

Lets face it the UK is currently a little f**ked up at the moment, we’ve lost our place in Europe and the current government continue to tax us to high heaven while having parties at number 10 during lockdowns. We need a release and that comes in the form of some belting live music with a strong message and a bit of fun thrown in for good measure. Tonight, in former ‘British Steel City’ Sheffield the crowd here realised that release as we had circle pits and singalongs galore to the fabulous Kid Kapichi.

Touring to promote their latest album ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ they are an explosive force and they bring with them on this tour one of my personal favourite new(ish) bands Dead Pony as support. A lethal combo to properly set alight ‘The Foundry’.

Dead Pony themselves are promoting their superb debut album ‘Ignore This’ and the boys in the band kick off their set with a short instrumental warm up of The Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’. Impressive and daring to say the least, but frontwoman Anna Shields is a revelation, her voice a siren's call that cuts through the cacophony like a knife through butter. She is everywhere on this stage, a pocket rocket whirling dervish, the title track off the album is delivered with a fervour not seen here for years.

Suprisingly, ‘23, Never Me’ did not make the album, despite it being tattooed on Shield’s arm, but that and ‘Rainbows’ were the only times to take a brief breath of air as the likes of ‘Cobra’, ‘MK Nothing’ and ‘MANA’ were a cathartic burst of sonic energy. If this band don’t make it to the bigger stages then there is something very f##cked up about this country.

Then we get ready for the main event while listening to a mixture of classic soul interspersed with Groove Armada, such is the dichotomy of varied influences on their music. I’m seeing Euro and Palestinian flags at the back too, so we are in for a party with some messages.

The band walk on and as they launch into ‘Artillery’ Jack Wilson realises he has left his shades in the dressing room, so a helpful roadie puts them on his head whilst he is in mid flow. This opener is a rallying cry for the masses to stop being complacent. It's a call to action that hits home hard. ‘Party At No.10’ gets the crowd singing along, while ‘Jimi’ pays homage to a fallen friend, tugging at heartstrings with its poignant melody.

Jack's guitar prowess is on full display throughout the set, with a whopping 14 guitar changes that showcase their growing repertoire. Tracks like ‘Let’s Get To Work,’ ‘999,’ and ‘Can EU Hear Me’ keep the energy high, making it impossible to pick just one favorite.

‘New England’ sees the DBFC crew (the other support band) joining them onstage for a lively rap section, adding to the infectious vibe. And when they close with ‘Sardines’ and ‘Smash The Gaff,’ you know it's been a night to remember, with mosh pits erupting and the energy ever soaring.

Both Dead Pony and Kid Kapichi should by rights be selling out the Academy circuit on their own, this was a ticket that you will look back on in 5 years saying I was there when these two played on the same tour for £20 - imagine that.