Review
Review
EYOE Recommends at The Shacklewell Arms, 08/01/2025
Some of EYOE’s favourite new acts take over the Shacklewell Arms, raising money for North London Action For The Homeless
Jackson Roy
Joined by Oscar Browne on bass and vocals, and Rian O’Grady on drums, this was the first time Jackson Roy’s music has moved beyond being a solo output. Not that you could tell. Be it duets and two-part harmonies or added groove, these new accompaniments added extra layers and a warmth to Roy’s delicate, nostalgia-tinged songwriting. It was appreciated by the crowd, too, who crammed themselves into the gig room – so much so that many times the doors opened, only for potential attendees to realise there was no space for them.
Tiernan Banks
The deathcrash singer took to the stage with just an acoustic guitar, and a microphone taped to its inside for amplification. It’s a stripped back set-up, but one that reflects the sparse songwriting on offering. Intimate, vulnerable and yet immediate, it’s a step away from the slowcore offerings of his other project, but just as powerful.
Fuzz Lightyear
Having travelled down from Leeds, Fuzz Lightyear brought with them not just the best name on the bill, but an immediate change in sound and energy. Drawing from shoegaze and noise-rock, their wall of sound approach was certainly different to what had come before, but eclectic nights like this are what The Shack does best, and Fuzz Lightyear did their part to make it a stellar showing. There was even an impromptu sing-along to Robbie Williams’ Angels as the band were packing up. Truly something for everyone.
Pem
A packed room greeted us once again for headliner Pem. Having supported W.H. Lung and Bess Atwell, Emily Perry has built up a following over the course of 2024. She starts the new year with EP Cloud Work and new single ‘Ellipsis’ in tow. Creating dreamy soundscapes, accompanied by her confessional lyrics and unique, husky vocals; it was an intoxicating performance – you couldn’t help but be drawn in. This was the Shacklewell Arms and Eat Your Own Ears at their best – the best in new music, an eclectic lineup in one of the capital’s best grassroots venues, packed to the brim on a cold Wednesday night. You couldn’t ask for a better way to start the year than that!
