VANT get cathartic at blistering Newcastle Stand For Something show

If ever a Saturday night is needed for blowing off steam, it’s this one. At the end of a week filled with political turmoil and disheartened optimists, tonight’s gig is no longer just about watching two brilliant bands play: it’s about – as Mattie Vant himself said earlier this week – exorcising some demons.

Hull’s LIFE are mesmerising from the off. Frontman Mez Green is a bubbling pot of intensity, threatening to explode at any moment. All contorted limbs and wide eyes, there’s an unhinged air to the frontman’s performance which works to up the adrenaline. Blitzing through cuts ‘Rare Boots’ and ‘Popular Music’ - the latter of which sees the frontman started to clamber off the stage and towards the balcony railings – their set is controlled yet unpredictable, intriguing but gripping, and they prove themselves an invigorating presence.

Fresh from a tour across the country alongside You Me At Six, VANT are more than prepped. Returning to the venue that frontman Mattie found himself occupying throughout his younger years, the atmosphere in The Cluny is sizzling with anticipation ahead of their set. As soon as the scuzzy feedback introducing ‘The Answer’ rings out, and its glorious chorus kicks in, it’s a sheer adrenaline rush.