Words by Sam Taylor , Photos by Gingerdope Photography
Tonight is a special show for Southampton’s thriving music scene. It marks the triumphant return of goth-punk hometown heroes Creeper who are currently touring their debut album Eternity In Your Arms.
Before the show begins the atmosphere is electric, the word “mate fest” springs to mind when amongst the crowd. It’s like a family gathering, if that family was a bunch of alternative teenagers in Callous Heart jackets.
Creeper bursts onto the stage to an overwhelming response, with the crowd chanting their week old tracks like they’re timeless classics. Opening the set with their explosive track ‘Black Rain’ instantly follows the high octane ‘Poison Pens’ leaving the oceans of people like a bunch of sweaty, bouncy, over-excited puppies.
This show stands out amongst any of Creepers previous performances in Southampton. The band are paying homage to several members of family in the crowd and notable figures in Creeper’s history. These include their producer Neil Kennedy and long-time friend/promoter Ricky Bates. During his dedication to Bates, Will Ghould takes a moment to talk about Creeper’s history in Southampton, telling stories about how this band came from small DIY beginnings to get to where they are today.
With this reflection comes a barrage of tracks from Creeper’s early days including ‘Black Mass’ and ‘We Had A Pact’ all with spectacular theatrics and impeccable performances from the band. With these tracks being a part of Creeper’s earlier releases, there’s a huge sense of nostalgia flowing through the wall of crowd surfers and flooding the room with a hysterical reaction.
Tonight’s show clearly isn’t just about Creeper’s past but also a look into their future. Tonight the band’s newest and only female member Hannah Greenwood got to take the spotlight to perform her ballad ‘Crickets’. This just shows that Creeper have an ability to captivate no matter what.
This night will be remembered as one of those “you had to be there” kind of shows that people will talk about for years to come. When Creeper play a hometown show it’s almost like the second coming of Christ to some. Love or hate this band, it’s hard to argue that these guys have got some special hold over their Southampton roots and the outstanding performance they gave tonight is a tribute to that.
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