LIVE REVIEW: Drastic // Automatic

In one of the best live music pubs in Sheffield, some new faces take to the stage. The bar is packed, the lit-up beer garden bustling, and patrons stand sipping drinks in front of glowing neon signs. The turnout Drastic // Automatic has is impressive when considering they are new talent and this is their debut.

The Washington, situated on Fitzwilliam Street, has an iconic history. Frequented by bands like Pulp in their early days, it is no surprise that fresh faces looking to crack the music industry gravitate here for their first outings. They call themselves ‘the spiritual home’ of the Sheffield music scene, one of their allures is the free entry to all events, and they pride themselves on showcasing cutting edge bands.

Drastic // Automatic look quite at home here. Made up of members Sean on guitar and vocals, Benji on drums and Chris on bass, the band went through a few different incarnations before they settled on their current line-up in the summer of 2020.

The music itself was kept secret for 2 years - until this night. With thick basslines and a sound reminiscent of the punk rock movement of the 1970s, they are an instant hit with the crowd. Of course, with any band staring out, most of the turnout are impassioned friends, wanting to show their support. The rapport is solid in breaks between songs, with the crowd chanting towards the end, ‘One more song’ to the ecstatic response of, ‘Actually we have three!’

In the age of streaming services and social media, some wonder why bands continue to use small venues as platforms. With snippets of music going viral on sites such as Tiktok (PinkPantheress being one of the main examples of this), the age of likes and heart reactions can seem more encouraging than playing to people who may not be connected emotionally to your music. This is exactly why venues like The Washington are so important. Algorithms are only one element of what makes a band successful and the very core of making music is the ability to share it with others by playing it live. Drastic // Automatic are waiting to build up a back catalogue of music before launching officially on social media, believing the sense of belonging shared through music in-person is far more beneficial than any short-lived fame on the internet.

The band have big plans. They have more upcoming shows booked and hope to do more from there. Considering Sheffield is the home to many well-known bands and musicians who have now broken out into mainstream charts, such as the Arctic Monkeys and The Human League, it is hard not to have high hopes for their continued success.

The music venues that gave them a platform to cultivate a fan base and share their music goes hand in hand with their burgeoning talent and it is likely we will see them again soon.

Edited by Hannah Youds