It’s While She Sleeps‘ only UK show this year, as well as their 20th anniversary as a band. From the get-go, there’s excitement in the air from this welcoming community of fans, and it seems a lot of the local hardcore scene is present for this event.
There are unfortunately some teething problems with the venue, as allegedly ticket scanners weren’t working, which led to us being let into the venue later than expected…
Oversize
Oversize is on as the first support act for the evening. I unfortunately missed half of their set due to the venue’s opening complications. It seems that the venue is not even half full for their set, as there are still fans outside waiting to get in.
From what I did see of Oversize, there were moments of endearment, laid back melodies integrating into lots of bass and prominent drumming with crashing and all-consuming guitars. Melodic vocals are mysterious-sounding and lead up to guttural screams; however, at times, their performance seems to lack depth and feels quite emotionless. The crowd was very stagnant and spread out throughout.
Their set becomes bouncier, heavier and more fun towards the end; they seem more synchronised and engaged, and it now feels more like they’re telling more of a story through their music.
The lead singer announces it’s their first time in Doncaster, and the crowd now gives them a welcoming cheer. He speaks about how much it means to support “Sleeps” and that people showed up early.
Unpeople
The venue lights dim, we hear reverb and muffled guitar chords being plucked, sounds of static become louder, alongside tinkling high-pitched noises, a voice over plays, and within minutes, the band, Unpeople, bounce onto the stage. They move with their own unique timings, while guitar chords are played determinedly.
Screaming, singing and chanting in unison ensues, with audience participation included; it feels powerful and political. They fluctuate effortlessly between melodic sounds that then turn guttural and contagious, and seem to liven up the room to a great extent. Choruses are catchy and performed with charged-up emotions. The lead singer high kicks the air while a mosh pit erupts.
Hectic stuttering chords turn into angelic singing -for a moment- this intensifies quickly with layered vocals that are poised and strong. Bass and drums make up the beat, but sound out opposingly for intricate undertones. Bass riffs become exceptionally low against the scratchy, high-pitched fry screams, which creates opposition within the complex sounds of this fast and ever-changing pace set.
The band plays in sync, whilst headbanging, and exuding attitude, we hear warped high-pitched sounds that ignite the room into chaos, with all hands above heads in the crowd, steadily in the air, clapping in unison. Unpeople create a great atmosphere and involve the audience in their antics, which now inspires crowd surfers.
The band crouch down on the stage while an ominous-sounding backing track plays. We hear elongated guitar chords turn grungy with high-pitched notes delicately placed in between and synthesised sounds that have the whole crowd headbanging on command, as a circle pit opens.
The bassist jumps daringly into the circle pit and climbs up on someone’s shoulders while maintaining playing to perfection, all the while circled by fans who are moving at an alarming rate. It’s a highly impulsive and energetic moment. Unpeople put on an incredible performance.
Guilt Trip
The whole room is plunged into darkness, and a backing track of Oasis’ “Morning Glory” begins to play. We know what’s next… Guilt Trip takes to the stage dominantly, and we’re straight into hardcore sounds.
One chord is played, and the most pit is in full swing. Twinging, electrified guitar chords are played alongside the most guttural bass. Brutal screams can be heard. The atmosphere they create is magnetic through the intensified noise. So much attitude comes from the stage and seeps into the crowd.
They command the crowd to pick a side as a wall of death begins, fans are flinging themselves in and out of the pit, with people spilling out to break into ninja moshing at any given moment.
As well as playing some of their older songs-which the fans adore, they play a brand new track for us, which has layers of screeching guitars which brace us for the next phase of the breakdown. They tell the crowd to “Infiltrate the sidelines” as they want to turn the whole room into one giant mosh pit.
Anyone who didn’t already know how to mosh has suddenly learned a new survival skill, and we’re all two-stepping into the next song…..which about halfway through, the music abruptly comes to a halt, and the band announces “Do better…. represent Yorkshire.” I can attest…Yorkshire was doing just fine… however, the room has levelled up with energy in its entirety.
The female bassist is captivating to watch as she drops low to the floor while playing, her movements and sounds prominent. The whole band get low for their last breakdown, just as the audience bounces the highest they have all night yet. Regurgitated lyrics and blurred chords are played while plastic cups of beer are sent flying over heads to the gnarliest melodies. As they leave the stage, we can hear The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” playing on a backing track….and the “Yorkshire, Yorkshire” chant begins from the crowd…
While She Sleeps
The stage is now filled architecturally high with amps, creating a two-tiered formation and the word “SLEEPS” is highlighted in white on the black backdrop. The room is filled with anticipation. Hardcore synthesised sounds can be heard right before While She Sleeps take to the stage in an energetically charismatic entrance. Booming drum beats begin, and every single person in the room has their hands in the air, clapping in complete synchronicity.
The lighting fluctuates from total darkness to colourful lasers and huge bursts of pyro within seconds, igniting our senses, while we go feral. The band’s silhouettes create intense shapes through their passionate movements, and their dedication fills the entire room and is delivered right back to them.
While She Sleeps gives the most high-intensity energy to this performance and fiercely delivers a range of new and old songs for their anniversary. Some older songs are announced that the audience audibly gasp to, possibly because they were unsure if they would ever hear these songs live, and within these moments, you can feel the love (and warmth) in the room.
People in the crowd are climbing on top of each other’s shoulders, and the whole room is lit up with torch phone lights. ‘Thunderstorms’ in the form of stage lighting can now be seen overhead. Their songs fluctuate between emotive and hardcore in such beautiful opposition that often collides.
Loz-the lead singer, crowd surfs across the room, and the crowd don’t want to give him back to the stage, where he belongs. He encourages the crowd by asking for more crowd surfers to come to the front while stating, “Security, this is your time to shine”.. I feel that this may have been the most crowd surfers in one night that the Doncaster Dome has ever seen…
The band’s energy never falters, just consistently changes. Not many phones can be seen throughout the show, which is a testament to fans wanting to really be present in the moment. I don’t think people will forget how this show made them feel for a long time to come.
The band give each other accomplished looks while Matt, the guitarist, gives a speech. He states, “I used to come to the guitar shop here in Doncaster with my Grandad, one time I gave the guy behind the counter a While She Sleeps demo CD, a few weeks later he texted, or maybe Myspace messaged me, “Do you wanna play the Leopard?” (a gig venue) “It was the furthest we’ve ever been from home, so I said, “yes, we want to play the fucking Leopard, we’d absolutely love to.” “There was a band playing that night called “Fail to Reason” who Loz was singing in, so that night we saw his band and they fucking ruled.” “A few months later, Loz joined “Sleeps”. “I have Doncaster to thank for my whole fucking career and for giving us this fucking legend, Laurence fucking Taylor”.
While the last few songs are being played exceptionally, the energy in the room has only become greater. Confetti bursts from canons and showers the crowd while they mosh and jump. The crowd splits down the middle, and the confetti (that has settled on the floor) is pushed back up towards the ceiling with force, where the wall of death meets.
Loz finishes off the night with a speech before the final song. He states, “This has been unbelievable for While She Sleeps, thank you so much for being here with us and celebrating with us.” He gives a shout-out to his parents as a spotlight shines on them on the balcony.
“Donny (Doncaster) is where it all started out for me. If it wasn’t for Donny’s music scene and the people that supported this band, pushing underground music in the grassroots venues, we would not be stood on this stage right now, and I wouldn’t have met a lot of very special people in my life.” “Doncaster, I owe you so much.”
There’s an equal pride shared in the room for Doncaster between the fans and the band. I feel that this show is one that will go down in the band’s history as being incredibly important to them.
Loz continues, with a bit of a cryptic message, “You don’t know how special tonight is…. in the coming months, everything is going to become that little bit clearer. But from While She Sleeps and everyone packing out this room and all of our supporters far and wide….thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We’re grateful always for your eyes and your motherfucking ears.”