Friday was day fourth and final day of the WXPN’s 18th annual NON-COMMvention at World Café Live, which closed with performances by Rhode Island rockers Belly and Britain’s Editors. Here are some photos and highlights from that show.
1. Belly are back with their signature alt-rock sound.
On the heels of the release of Dove, their first album in 23 years, the quartet of Tanya Donelly, Gail Greenwood, Thomas Gorman and Chris Gorman delivered five stellar tracks—some new, some old—to a sold-out crowd of fans. “Feed the Tree” rocked as wonderfully as ever, while the new material, like “Stars Align,” sounds like classic Belly.
2. Set closer “Human Child” was the highlight from Dove.
A song about lessons for newer life that holds universal truths, Donelly’s rich vocals stir up emotions of the human condition. Greenwood blazed away on bass and the Gorman brothers carved percussion and guitar into fascinating lyrics like: “Oh human child/ Your face to the wind, your back to the sun/ Oh human child/ You’re digging up bones and miss every point.” I certainly cannot wait to catch a full set of new Belly and old at Union Transfer in September.
3. British rockers Editors closed out NON-COMM with a solid set of indie rock.
Lead singer Tom Smith cranked up the energy on a solid mixture of songs from their 2018 LP, Violence, and more familiar tracks from the past. Bright white and red lights provided a visual representation of the moody rock. Smith was often off balance, whether yielding a guitar or the mic stand. The band was rounded out with Russell Leetch on bass, Ed Lay’s drums, Justin Lockley’s guitar-work and Elliot Williams played keys and guitar in the shadows. From the first fiery moments of “Blood” to set closer, there was little breathing room for the band or audience.
4. The stand out new track was “Hallelujah (So Low).”
With sparse lyrics and propulsive guitars matched with an earworm vocalization of “Oh” that sounds more worthy of a church than a rock record, the song was an awesome way to conclude the NON-COMM 2018.
Check out more of our coverage of NON-COMM 2018:
- Highlights from day one with Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers and more
- Highlights from day two with with Courtney Barnett Mt. Joy, Titus Andronicus and Low Cut Connie
- Highlights from day three with Hop Along, Angélique Kidjo, Brandi Carlile and more