Cleopatrick at Electric Brixton

Last night, Canadian rock duo Cleopatrick debuted on Electric Brixton’s stage as part of their UK and Ireland tour promoting their latest album Fake Moon. Traditionally known for their minimalist set-up, the Fake Moon live lineup included two accompanying guitarists, adding a layer of depth and complexity to the band’s signature gritty and raw sound.

One might not be sure what to expect from a modern rock concert, but Cleopatrick wasn’t far from your old-school fantasies: a mosh pit baptism in high-energy, unfiltered rock.

The crowd was alive within ten seconds of the intricate, bluesy opening of Good Grief and sustained the intensity of their performance with cultish anticipation and spirit.

In between the heavier moments of Family Van and the breakthrough grungy anthem Hometown, Grunts’s raw and expressive vocal delivery created moments that felt pretty Indie. Moody echoing riffs with lots of reverberation on the mic created a smooth, emotive sound, like an angsty Alt-J meets Royal Blood, Artic Monkeys and early 2000s garage rock revival acts.

Palpable in the room of sweaty head-bangers was that Cleopatrick’s lyricism – on themes of isolation, masculinity, small-town life and self-doubt – really resonates. It was nice to see such a union of brooding souls with that DIY punk spirit.

Intrigued to see how Cleopatrick’s stripped-back setup translated live, it was impressive how the duo played into their loud-quiet-loud structures, creating dynamic shifts by building tension before explosive choruses. A constant rotation of hair-flipping and crowd-surfing climaxes was the result. Gruntz’s use of a pedalboard created that distorted, whammy and ricochet of underground rock, whilst the supporting guitarists employed pinch harmonics and thick, fuzzy guitar riffs. Compounded by Fraser’s tight precision on the drums, and the crooning vocals, there is really nothing minimalist about their sound on stage.

Alternating between old and new equally loved tracks, Cleopatrick’s sold-out London show was a celebration of both their new record and of ten years of the band. Born out of the tension, uncertainty and loss of being young in a COVID/post-COVID world, Fake Moon thrives on restless energy and the search for meaning. This tension was palpable in the sea of bodies, but it found resolution in the powerful connection between the band and their passionate fans.

Lara Hedge
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events, visit Cleopatrick’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Heat Death here: