The Neutrinos, Norwich’s own art-rock mavericks, roared back to their ‘spiritual home’ at the Norwich Arts Centre for a blistering, full-volume show. This performance was explicitly billed as a return to their full-on rock ‘n’ roll roots, making a refreshing shift for local fans who have experienced the band primarily through their acclaimed, immersive KlangHaus residencies. They absolutely proved they are just as masterful tearing up a conventional stage as they are inhabiting an entire building, delivering a visceral and unforgettable night of sound.
It’s my first Neutrino’s gig and I have no idea what to expect. The format was captivating enough and not gig standard at all. The running order on display was The Neutrinos were going to be playing first, for about half an hour and then the support act, Lassie, were on for their set and then The Neutrinos come back on – I like it already – it’s different.
There was palpable excitement from the audience who sold out the Norwich Arts Centre, being a home crowd it’s not unexpected they knew it was going to be something special. The Neutrinos don’t generally tour, they hold shows in specific locations, and when I say show, I mean an eclectic soundscape avant-garde musical expression.
From the moment the lights dropped, the band launched into a controlled chaos that was anything but predictable. The core sound is fiercely rooted in art punk often bringing out raw energy fused with the sonic adventurism of experimental icons. The dynamic shifts were breath-taking: one moment the room was engulfed in a thunderous wall of sound thick with distorted guitar and relentless drums, and the next, it was cut with pin drop quiet sections where vocalist Karen Reilly’s voice held the audience in intense, almost fragile focus. This approach ensured that every musical phase felt urgent and unpredictable keeping the packed room constantly and delightfully on edge.
At the end of the first set, Lassie come on stage to join The Neutrinos, a nice way to introduce them to the audience before their actual set, which was a stunning collection of songs which took you on a musical adventure. There was a fusion of the two bands during different parts of the night, culminating to them all on stage creating, not only an incredible sound but by golly their enjoyment of what they were creating together was amazing to watch, it was almost as though they forgot the audience were there.
Reily’s command of the space is undeniable, she is less a front woman and more of a conductor of energy shifting effortlessly between abrasive feedback drenched chaos and moments of pure theatrical introspection. The band tore through demanding set list but most compelling moments came when they deliberately blurred the line between gig and live art.
The Neutrinos managed to deconstruct the typical rock gig structure demonstrating their refusal to be hemmed in by convention, and it was thrilling.
They were building a sonic environment. The sound was industrial, visceral and deeply rhythmi. Karen was absolutely ferocious hitting patterns that felt both random and precise. It served as an anchor for Max’s electronic manipulations and his vocal delivery which reigned from frantic distorted spoken word to moments of pure melodic clarity where the lyrics often repeated in strange mantra like loops felt like discovered poetry. They built these incredible soaring soundscapes only to suddenly pull the plug leaving us in stunned silence before they launched into the next unpredictable movement.
Every second felt dangerous and alive looking around the room everyone had the same expression in mix of confusion or in total captivation there was no polite nodding you either frozen by the intensity or subtly twitching to the unpredictable pulse.
It’s probably one of the best gigs I have ever been to!
More info:
The Neutrinos
Norwich Arts Centre
My interview with The Neutrinos
