[ATTENDED: September 16, 2024] Brutus
Brutus is a trio from Belgium. I wasn’t familiar with them until this show was announced but when I listened to their album Unison Life, I loved everything about them and knew I wanted to see them.
As the Superbloom gear was being removed, there was a drumkit on the right side of the stage. I assumed that it would get moved to the middle, but it never did!
Rather, guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and bassist Peter Mulders were center stage with all of their gear (including Milders’ bass pedals) and vocalist and drummer Stefanie Mannaerts faced them from the side of the stage.
Mannaerts’ microphone was on her left so she turned to the crowd when she sang. The problem for me is that one of her cymbals was right where her face was, so I literally couldn’t see her face the whole night. Even when the guy in front of me made room for me (that was very nice), it was still impossible to see her.
But boy could you hear her. Mannaerts’ voice is powerful with a terrific range. She doesn’t growl, but she does scream. Her voice is typically raspy and raw, although she also sings quietly and soothingly. Strangely enough I found that at times she sounded like Bjork, which was unexpected for many reasons.
On drums she is just as intense–with some really snapping, sharp snare drums and thumping toms. Her kit was small–she’s not showing off, but there were lots of time and intensity changes throughout the songs.
I also loved that between songs she slowly played her wind chimes to create a soothing sound between songs.
Some of the songs were quieter, but all had loud parts–sometimes shockingly so. War started quietly for about 2 minutes and then suddenly exploded. “Liar” and “Brave” are explosive and catchy songs with a great chorus and killer guitar lines.
Most of the set was taken from their newest album Unison Life, which is the one I know best, so it was a great to hear so much of it.
They played three songs from Nest including Space and the set ending Sugar Dragon. They also played a new song, “Paradise” which is apparently going to be used in a TV show.
“Sugar Dragon” was a great 7 minutes song that ebbed and flowed and ending with massive intensity.
The show was short (about 70 minutes) but it was fantastic. The lights (which were simple but effective) were explosive and perfectly timed with the end.
I’m so glad I checked them out. It was a great show.
- War ⊗
- Liar ∏
- Justice De Julia II ♦
- Miles Away Intro
- Miles Away ∏
- Brave ∏
- What Have We Done ∏
- Storm ∏
- Space Intro
- Space ⊗
- Dust ∏
- Paradise (new)
- Victoria ∏
- Sugar Dragon ⊗
♦ Burst (2017)
⊗ Nest (2019)
∏ Unison Life (2022)
I Just Read About That... 
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