Concert Review: PREP Turn Night Into Day At Rough Trade
PREP got Rough Trade in their FEELINGS! Their music is for those that feel heartbreak on the dance-floor; as if we relive every fight we have with our ex-lover under the disco light. Thus, live, their music felt more intimate in its groove like their beats grew even easier to feel with the rich vocals of its lead singer Tom Havelock. Thus, their ability so match the somber of life with succulent rhythm, which had me:
I blame Tom Havelock’s VOICE for Prep’s capacity to turn emotions into rhythms. UGH! I love his voice; if I could wear it like a tattoo, I WOULD! Yes, that is a creepy analogy, but similar to Ethan Gruska or R.E.M’s John Michael Stipe, he has a wrapping quality to his voice that, when you hear it live, your ears perk up. You want to know where that voice coming from: not simply literally but figuratively. Thus, tracks like, “Over,” “Cold Fire,” and “Pressure,” which came to life, on record, for their grooved beats, were enriched by the sheer musicianship and personality of this band.
PREP – “Over” ft. Anna of the North (Official Video)
Havelock could, literally, hum on a mic or belt a note, not a lyric, but a sound, and you are enraptured. He takes the mic like a preacher about to drop some holy wisdom on his audience, which embodies how he talks to the crowd like a guide for good times. He is both warm and commanding: clutching his presence and voice like they are bull-horns for clarity, which they are. The whole point of doing art is to feel clearer about something and whole point of performing is to show you are cleared.
PREP – Who’s Got You Singing Again (Official Video)
In an era where feelings are rampant, PREP feels like the stepping stone for those that want to feel better: not just feel. Their sound is groovy, infectiously fun, and inherently yearning thanks to Havelock’s voice. With colorful lighting, it was hard not to want to chill into songs such as, “Don’t Look Back” and “Snake Oil,” and see that even your night life can feel like day. For More Information On PREP Click Here.
