Mercutio continues their run of dates with an up-tempo, high energy and totally rousing set at The Waterfront in Norwich.
Mercutio – The Waterfront 27 October 2021
Words and photography: Steve Ritchie
With Antagonist, the stunning new album out, Mercutio has taken to the road in support of Inglorious in some style, as their enthralling live performances continue to captivate new audiences.
The addition of Ross William Wild to the band as lyricist and vocalist is a genius move, and while the new writing team are a super match, live the music is refreshing, and their performance elevates the band to ‘must watch’ status.
Opening with Where The Pain Lives, Italian guitarist Fabio Staffieri is immediately to the fore with the fuzzy riff-driven intro, while drummer Edoardo Mariotti and bassist Andrea Lonardi build the song’s foundations wonderfully, allowing the energetic performance and scorching vocals of Wild to draw the crowd in.
Slap Bang and the fantastic Playtime followed, the latter working superbly live, the uptempo chorus is very catchy.
If the first three songs had turned the crowd’s eyes and ears, then the next song, Alex, had the crowd totally on board. The theme of the song is Ross’s friend, who sadly took his own life when Ross was young, but again, live, the track is consumed by the crowd.
The band wrapped up with Chaos Is King and C Word, the former a catchy radio-friendly beast, the latter, while not their most melodic song, had people with their phones out filming.
The up-tempo six-track setlist (they didn’t play the slow, moody A Part Of Me) was met with a rousing round of applause, and overheard conversations at the bar afterwards included gems like “proper enjoyed that” and “how can you not dance to that?”
The Inglorious set was interrupted and the venue emptied by a fire alarm, which gave the chance to catch up with Ross in the car park. “‘The tour is going great,” he told MetalTalk. “It just goes from strength to strength from a production point of view. We are all really aware of Inglorious’ crowd now, we know the type of songs they’re going to like, and it’s great to perform for a crowd who are set on the style of music they like. We break that style, we break that mould slightly, but we’re getting great feedback.”
Ross assures us his voice is holding up well, and while he is the focal point for the energetic live performances, it is impressive how, as a group, Mercutio are able to deliver their music. “We always try and stay true to what is on the album,” Ross says, “but there is leeway to take advantage of certain energy in the room or certain energy that the band has.
“We’re an energetic band, and you see me flopping and jumping around the stage,” Ross says. “That’s why I wear a vest. I get too hot and sweaty on stage.”
With that energy and those songs, Mercutio certainly knows how to turn a crowd round to their music. The band have now signed to Universal Music. Their future looks very bright indeed.
Mercutio – Setlist
Where The Pain Lives
Slap Bang
Playtime
Alex
Chaos Is King
C Word
