Review: Rhodes at Mello Mello, 30th September

Miné Salkin heads to the city's best DIY venue to catch Mersey math rock newcomers Rhodes.

Rhodes are a musical talent you may not have heard of until recently. The five-piece indie rock gang played a stellar set at Mello Mello on to finish off a week-long national tour, with ear-ringingly impressive results. Having just released an EP with Liverpool’s original E.D.i.L.S. Records alongside the talents of Moonlit Sailor and Elk, they’re now heading back into the shadows of songwriting.

Built on lifelong friendships, the group’s synergy onstage truly brings this sentiment alive. Newly reunited with their singer, Alan Croft, who spent the past year on the West Coast of British Columbia, the group rocked out together and delivered one of the most blisteringly loud gigs I’ve experienced recently. In fact, two days later, the ears are still ringing. Drummer Michael Davies, despite his off-stage reserve, lets loose and brings to mind the mathematical side of his craft, with technical beats and jams. Bassist Jon Papavasiliou performs fluidly and dynamically on his chosen weapon, and with the half Greek connotation it’s hard to put Poseidon out of your mind when you’re watching him perform. Guitarists Aaron Noroozi and Michael Connor might have a bit of rivalry going on, staunchly placed on opposite sides of the stage, but the melding of their distorted, melodic sounds is an act of love.

Rhodes is a band that, despite their complex rhythms and math-rock tendencies, they manage to offset the brainy aspects of music writing by fleshing out natural sounds and rich harmonies. Caught somewhere between the brainy tendencies of Foals, and the catchiness of Two Door Cinema Club, their polished sound is hugely impressive and bound to take them far.