La Luz at The Eagle Inn in Salford review

Image: La Luz 

Leaving The Eagle Inn, Salford, shared knowledge suggests that there has not been a single person named Gary since 1992. Obscure, indeed, but take a second to think; how old is the Gary you know, if in fact if you know a Gary, at all?

The report went on to suggest we are in great danger of Gary's being extinct by 2050, a case not to worry about when the white Tiger or next generation of female musicians is far greater of a concern in the grand scheme of things. 

As for Saturday the 17th, a line up consisting of headliners La Luz and support act Elle Mary & The Bad Men played homage to an array of female musicians that encouraged hopes and beliefs that there is still a strong foot hold for female musicians, albeit on the back burner of an unflattering and quite lacklustre period in major UK festival line ups. 

A band who should be up and down the reaches of English waters are Elle Mary & The Bad Men. Opening their set, in a very tight capacity venue that beckons a fire place half way up the wall and a radiator at eye level height, Mary was unaccompanied and soulfully demanded the audience's respect through her angelic voice and subtle guitar chords.

In such an enticing, elegant and equipped manner, her voice grew in depth as she sang of heartache. Taking the audience on in-depth memorandums of her personal fortunes, her vocal only grew in stature when Mary introduced the Bad Men.

The addition of a drummer and bassist complemented the projection of Mary's voice to such an extent that if it were not for them being visibly potent, the audience could've easily swayed in a trance to Mary's powerful yet fragile vocal presence with a backdrop of an delicate drum beat and a cautious bass rhythm. 

In that very moment, in that very venue in which The Eagle Inn wishes for you to turn off your phone in between performances out of respect for artists, there was no better place to be if you were seeking an enlightenment of beauty and contentment. The silence eventually broke when the band were applauded off stage.

Applauded onto stage were Seattle's very own La Luz bringing surf rock and doom wop to Salford as well as a set-list crafted just five seconds prior to going on stage.

Consisting of four women, La Luz stretch from the ordinary to the extraordinary in the matter of a reverb-structured Stratocaster solo with a blend of surf life that only The Beach Boys can engrave into your imagination.

An imagination which can be stretched with to the twangs from Shana Cleveland's guitar leading you to visualise, not only surfing but a close up cut of John Wayne's eyes in a typical western shut down.

Such the comparison can be made as behind the harmonising melodies and the flash backs to happier times La Luz cut an undertow of realism and despair in such songs as 'What Good Am I?' (listen above) and 'You Disappear'.

In context pessimistic songs were always going to arise within the bands writing, having survived fatal injuries and road accidents that nearly killed them. Safe and sound, the four piece played with energy that is admirable considering the length they have been on the road, the evidence of the effects were visible to the naked eye.

Only in-between songs when the band asked an audience member to do some 'banter' and they found the man to introduce their songs, you would believe the band are as fresh and raw as they have ever been. They gave exactly what the audience needed; laughter, dancing, fun, singalongs and enjoyment, what else could you ask for? 

Read: Born Ruffians at Gullivers, Manchester review