Sweeping Promises | Witloof Bar, Botanique | Brussels, Belgium | 1 November, 2023
Storm Ciaran is gearing up to hit Northern Europe’s coast, meanwhile Sweeping Promises has been hitting the continent in the past month in support of their second album, Good Living Is Coming For You (Feel It Records, Sub Pop). This is their first tour of Europe, and they greet the crowd enthusiastically. The night before they played Liege, and now they are here at Brussels’ Botanique to play the cellar venue – Witloof Bar – of legendary invention of endive fame. This is their first concert in Brussels, Belgium.
The trio made up of Lira Mondal (vocals, bass), Caulfield Schnug (guitar) and Spenser Gralla (drums) take the stage, launching right into ‘Eraser’ off Good Living Is Coming for You. Lira Mondal’s vocal range is instantly on display as she swings from delicate to sharp, muscular riot grrrl growls. Her voice has such gravitas it seems like five people are singing through her at once.
‘Hunger for a Way Out’ – title track off their 2021 debut gives a nod to their surf punk past from previous band Silkies when partners Mondal and Schnug were still living in Boston before decamping eventually to their homebase of Lawrence, Kansas. For this former Lawrence Fucking Kansan, seeing this dynamo trio spark up the stage in Belgium feels just like being at a local gig at legendary punk bar The Replay, where Sweeping Promises have played many a show.
Caulfield is a master guitarist with nary a stroke gone astray. The perfect New Wave instaclassic ‘You Shatter’ compels the entire crowd squeezed into the subterranean space to dance. Tracks such as ‘Ideal No’ hearkens back to the likes of the B52’s with Mondal’s robust vocals easily taking on the work of two in one.
Sweeping Promises are surely one of the most riveting, dynamic current bands whose live performances beg spectators to want to come back for more, addicted to the joyous, lightning strike energy on stage. Mondal lets the audience know how enthused they are for their first time visiting our shores.
After tonight, the band will venture on to Germany, closing out the tour in Berlin for Pitchfork. After coming back for an encore, the singer promises they will return. It’s no sweeping promise to say the audience will too, bringing along more friends to be converted.
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