Seeing Calva Louise at The Garage Attic in Glasgow felt less like a standard gig and more like stepping into their own strange, cinematic universe…and I cannot tell you how packed it was! I’ve been to a few sold out shows in the Attic but this one was so damn busy even for the support (note to self: must take fan next time).
Support came from Knife Bride, who set the tone perfectly. Their mix of gothic drama and crushing heaviness landed instantly. They are a band I’ve not heard of before and I really enjoyed their set but it was their new track “Porcelain” that really stuck. There’s something theatrical about them: gothic ballad energy, and a front-woman channelling a kind of Maria Brink intensity. Towards the end of their set they gave us a track called “Worthy”, turning the room into something almost communal, reminding everyone they are worthy of love. Bonus: they also have an EP that just dropped last week titled: Sorry About the Plague, so be sure to check it out!
Then came Calva Louise – and everything escalated.
The set opened with an eerie intro: Dance type vibes with a monologue starting to build the atmosphere alongside flickering TV screens, and that glowing red logo cutting through the darkness. From the start, it was clear how much thought goes into their visuals—no surprise given their DIY ethos and hands-on creative approach!
Musically, it was just as I expected, and I was blown away! “Tunnel Vision” and “WTF” hit like a shock to the system, while Jess’s vocals were genuinely jaw-dropping—switching from full-throttle screams to melodic lines without warning. The thing I love about this band is they have this ability to show just how unpredictable their sound can be with how creative they are!
The creativity and thought the band put into their stage presence, the creative elements on stage, to their setlist makes the full gig feel like there is a purpose and something is unfolding rather than a setlist being ticked off.
Tracks like “Third Class Citizen” and “Over The Threshold” kept the energy high, but it was the honesty between songs that really hit. Jess spoke about the band being fully DIY—everything from visuals to production—and how much it meant to be there. She also revealed she’d been dealing with food poisoning the night before, even pointing out the bucket on stage, but somehow powered through regardless. That grit only made the performance more impressive when you realised she’s been unwell but still gives 100% in all aspects including head banging away.
The back half of the set didn’t let up: “Under The Skin”, “Hate In Me”, “Con Corazón”, and “Impeccable” all landed hard, each showing a different side of the band’s genre-blurring style. By the time “Aimless” and “Opportunista” closed things out, the crowd felt fully locked into Calva Louise world and it was so good to see a mosh pit finally break out, although given how packed the venue was it was a mini one!
Calva Louise have a reputation for creating something super special and creative, and seeing their music in a live setting and how they perform takes it to grip you even more. It’s not just a gig—it’s a full creative statement. And when you are in a small room like the Attic, that intensity feels even bigger!
Header image by Henry Calvert
Calva Louise: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
Knife Bride: facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
