LIVE FROM THE PIT: Have A Nice Life and Deathcrash

It's hot, maybe too hot in the UK but the sad day has come where the Bristol music scene has to say goodbye to one of its legendary and much loved venues, Marble Factory (and by proxy the sister night club venue Motion); there was no better way to send off the old girl than with a massive set from Connecticut's own purveyors of heavy acoustic, Have A Nice Life.

Firstly though the packed out crowd were treated to London based post-rock slowcore outfit deathcrash. Emerging onto a dimly lit stage, dense with fog; deathcrash’s sound can be loosely aligned with that of the likes of Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Codeine or Low, a melancholic amalgamation of doom-metal and emo. Each track on the set was not only swollen in length but also packed a punch, each a true journey building from quiet roots to a cathartic almost euphoric crescendo, where the vocals of Tiernan Banks used sparingly but to great effect, providing a flourish to the layered soundscape the band creates. 

Culminating with “American Metal” (“Return”, 2022), the sole support slot was short and sweet (just 30 minutes), but it did everything that it needed to, warming the crowd up (both figuratively and literally, British summer time was in full force inside the main room) preparing them for the main event to follow.

Have A Nice Life rarely perform live, even less so on these shores; so this summer's European / United Kingdom tour which included performances during both legs of Outbreak Festival (their first ever UK appearances), shows in Dublin and Glasgow all finishing off with a slot at Hellfest; was sure to be a treat. 

Founding members Dan Barrett and Tim Macuga have described the direction of their own sound as “crafting oddly aggressive acoustic songs”, they create a completely enthralling soundscape of post-punk/shoegaze gloriousness. 

The bumper 1hour and 45minute set kicked off with the quartet of “Cropsey”, “Defenestration Song” (both “The Unnatural World”, 2014), “Dracula Bells” (“Sea of Worry”, 2019) and “Sisyphus” (“Void”, 2023).

Adlibing with the crowd vocalist Dan lets us all know “there is not a lot do in Connecticut, what I learned is you don’t have to ask permission to follow your dreams, just go off and fucking do it. I wanted to join a band so I went off and made one with Tim in college. Now I hear this is the last gig at this venue, so hey, go out and start your own bands, start your own venues, replace this place.” The closing sentiment was met with a chorus of cheers from the crowd.

Band and fans alike are utterly captivated by the music on show, when not being lost to an almost shamanic state, twisting and convulsing across the stage the music, every sinew of Dan’s body straining with absolute purpose as he delivers each lyric with the forceful gravitas that they deserve. 

A small tech issue led to Dan having to improvise some stand up for five or so minutes including some banter with some fellow Connecticut-ians (or is it Connecticut-ites) at the barrier.

Everything so far had built to the highlight of the night for me, the cathartic crescendo that is, standout from 2007’s” Deathconciousness”, “Bloodhail”. Every single member of the crowd , with their full chests, singing every lyric back to the band, ending acapella, fittingly, for the occasion and this venue tonight, with “And it lasts as long as it possibly can.” 

The set rounds out with a duo of fan favourites “A Quick One Before the Eternal Work Devours Connecticut” and “Earthmover”, before the sweat soaked, euphoric crowd disperses into the humid night air. What a way to say goodbye to live music at Bristol’s Marble Factory,

This is definitely a topic that deserves a thorough deep dive and more column inches than I can provide in this review. But I for one am truly gutted that this venue, which was one of my favourites anywhere in the UK, has held its last ever live gig. 

With the news of so many other grass root venues up and down the country being under threat of closure, including the recent news from Sheffield's longest running live music venue, The Leadmill; the work of organisations like The Music Venues Trust, and, among other things, their campaign for a £1 grassroots investment contribution from every arena and stadium ticket sold to support grassroots music venues, artists and promoters.

“In 2023, more than one venue closed every week. Of the 366 small venues Ed Sheeran played in while learning his trade, at least 150 are now closed. Another 72 Grassroots Music Venues significantly reduced or ended their live music offer in 2023. 38% of Grassroots Music Venues in the UK made a loss in the last 12 months. The sector operated on a 0.5% profit margin overall while running live music events at a £115 million loss.” (A Manifesto For Grassroots Music - Music Venues Trust.)

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL VENUES!

Cheers Marble Factory, you were an absolute beaut, you WILL be missed.

Words and photos: Simon Arinze