overpass at Electric Bristol
With their debut album in the works, the Birmingham four-piece are standing on the precipice of something big.
Before their latest Bristol show, we sat down with overpass to discuss their current tour, the state of the scene, and what comes next.
Formed under the backdrop of the pandemic and their GCSE exams, the Midlands 4-piece have amassed a loyal following, earning supports for many stalwarts of the scene, including Inhaler, and the Wombats. Now kicking off the 21st Century Fiction tour with the Amazons, the band were buzzing. ‘Bristol’s always a good one’, says frontman Max Newbold, reminiscing about their last gig in Bristol, at Thekla, ‘on the boat’.
Spending their summer locked in Liverpool’s Kempston Street Studios with producer Rich Turvey, the band recalled, with equal parts joy and exhaustion, a period of ‘six weeks of almost non-stop [recording], except for weekends’. We were treated with one of these unreleased songs, Union Street, during their performance later that evening. With others slowly creeping into the setlist, fans can expect new music soon, the band coyly admitting that they are itching for the new year to begin.
This time at Kempston Street marks a continuation of the clear evolution from their early singles to more recent releases, such as the Dependent EP, released in February this year. Having written their first single ‘One Night Lover’ aged 15, lead singer Max, and bassist Indie reflect on the broadening of their influences, and how the main driver of change was in fact playing rather than listening.
...the more gigs you do, you find out what kind of style you enjoy playing. That’s the end goal, to have a setlist of songs where you think, I’m feeling this...
Off the back of a manic year of touring, this grounding in the crowd’s reaction is clear, the band ditching jangly indie for a bolder stadium-sized sound that would not seem out of place echoing through the rafters of the Ally Pally.
In an ever-saturated scene, overpass seemed keen to shine the spotlight on their contemporaries, namechecking throughout the interview Leeds-based newcomers The North, and Balancing Act, the latter having freshly released the first part of their debut album earlier last month.
Yet for all their promise, throughout the gig I could not help but ask the lingering question: is the band distinct enough to cut through in an increasingly competitive scene? While musically tight and faultless, the performance felt that it missed the spark needed to fully excite the room, lacking a connection with the crowd, ultimately muting the moments that should have kicked the room into the next gear.
Whether a touch of rockstar nonchalance or just first night nerves, the band seemed to be going through the motions, and at times looked like they’d rather the set be over.
However, given the set being a warm-up slot, to a crowd that seemed largely unfamiliar with the band’s material, the atmosphere was inevitably more subdued from a headline show in front of their devoted fanbase.
Although, despite the initial coldness, a glimmer of energy emerged from the crowd towards the end of the set, during their standout tracks Take it or Leave It and 3AM, allowing the band to deliver those tracks with a renewed confidence, hinting at their full potential.
As for what’s next, the band have their eyes on a dream homecoming show at Birmingham’s O2 Academy. If they continue at their current pace, it won’t be long before overpass aren’t just supporting the heavyweights, but have earned their place amongst them.
Listen to Josh’s show, Nouveau Noise, Tuesdays 3-4pm