Karnataka - Tavistock Review

It is great to see the Welsh-based progressive rock act Karnataka so active in recent years. Karnataka's career has often consisted of bursts of creativity and activity followed by fallow periods, usually whilst the band rebuilds itself following line-up changes, but the current era may be busiest and most intense yet - potentially apart from the band's early days which I cannot speak of. Since launching the current line-up with a tour in 2022, which had been delayed for a while due to the pandemic, Karnataka have been very busy. The band's sixth album, and first of the current era, Requiem for a Dream (which I reviewed here) was released the following year - and three pretty lengthy UK tours, alongside some European headline shows and festival appearances, have followed to both promote the album and also to help to rebuild momentum following the lack of activity between the back end of 2017 and the 2022 relaunch. I have been lucky enough to catch each tour by the current line-up - as the band always seem to make a point of returning to The Wharf in Tavistock each year. The band have been playing at the venue on and off for years, going back to the original line-up, but it was not always a touring fixture. In recent years it has become such, though, and that means that, for four years in a row, I have been able to catch the band locally. I have had to travel to see the band in the past, with a couple of tips to London in recent memory, but having the band put on a local show in Devon each year is a real treat. The band's persistence seems to be paying off, too. Karnataka shows that I have been to in the past have rarely been what you would call 'full' in terms of turnout. An exception was a 2012 show in a tiny village hall in Lowdham, which I think was sold out, but otherwise, despite some decent turnouts, I have never felt the band's shows to be overly well-attended. It was only a couple of years ago that I stood in The Fleece in Bristol, and excellent venue and one which is usually busy, with around 20 other people to watch the band live. Unsurprisingly, Karnataka have not played in Bristol again since - and like many of their peers they now seem to stick to tried and tested venues, building their following across the country that way. The band's Tavistock shows have likely always made the trips down to the South West worthwhile - but last night attracted likely the largest crowd for the band I had seen at the venue. All of the seats were full, with the floor being around half full - alongside a smattering of people stood further back. It is great seeing the band's efforts paying dividends. For a band that has been around since the late 1990s, it must be disheartening to still be playing to quite small crowds at some shows - but given all of the significant line-up shifts and periods of inactivity that the band has gone through it is perhaps unsurprising that some fans have dropped off along the way or just lost touch with what the band are currently doing. It likely helps, too, that the band's line-up has been solid now for a couple of years. The last three tours, including this one, have featured the same five-piece line-up - and the current Karnataka line-up is very tight, and more than capable of delivering the newer material as well as songs from the past. Subtle setlist shake-ups each tour help, too, and with a new live album Requiem for a Night: Live in Zoetermeer hot off the press the current line-up has also now been immortalised live for all to see.

As is typical of the band's recent shows, there was no support act and the band played two sets with an interval. Whilst material from Requiem for a Dream still dominated the set, with five of the eight songs played, a good mix of older material was also included - including some songs which had not featured all that much live in the current era. There was even a rare cover included, and some recent setlist regulars were also rested, meaning that the show felt fresh despite the focus still being on the latest album. The show started off by looking to the past, though, and to 2010's The Gathering Light in particular. Songs from the album are generally included in the set, but the two that were featured this time had not been played live since the 2022 tour - with the lengthy The Serpent and the Sea and the funkier Your World kicking off the show. The former, in particular, has always been a personal favourite - so hearing it live again was a real treat. Much of the 2022 tour was undertaken without a keyboard player, so it was great hearing these songs back to full strength - with Rob Wilsher (keyboards) ensuring that the lush arrangements came across well live. From the opening keyboard melody of The Serpent and the Sea, it was clear that the set was going to be a powerful one. The sound mix was clear from the off - with the whole band in fine form. Frontwoman Sertari is able to cover the older material with ease - and she has long made The Gathering Light-era material her own. Her smooth voice felt powerful throughout the night, and the chorus of the opening number soon rang around the venue as the large crowd let it all wash over them. Your World allowed the rhythm section of founder Ian Jones (bass guitar) and newest face Jack Summerfield (drums) to whip up some funky grooves - with the upbeat and rhythmic track a welcome addition. Two new songs were included in the first set, with Say Goodbye Tomorrow up next - returning to the set following being left out last year. The smooth rocker is one that always seems to come alive more on stage than it does on the album. It may be my least favourite song on the album overall, but live it always feels more powerful - with Sertari delivering in spades. Another personal favourite was the return of Delicate Flame of Desire to the set. The album of the same name will likely always be my favourite by Karnataka, and a big reason why is its title track. It also saw Luke Machin (guitar) really come alive. Despite knowing him to be a great player, I was unsure at first whether he would be the right man for Karnataka - but over the past couple of years he has really grown into the band. He nailed the lyrical and plentiful lead guitar moments during the folky, soaring ballad. He really seems to get the core Karnataka approach now - but he still manages to include some of himself in the material with the occasional more shredded melody. His more metallic background was also allowed to shine during the heavier Forbidden Dreams - a song which has been rarely played since the last era of the band came to an end. It was great to hear the symphonic, punchy track live again - and it contrasted nicely with the lengthy and soaring Forgiven which followed. Forgiven feels like a modern Karnataka classic at this point - and it has been ever-present in the set since Sertari's first shows with the band. It is one that allows her to showcase some different sides of her voice, such as some classical-esque moments during the Latin mid-section - whilst it also contained plenty of big guitar solos for Machin. The first set then ended with a great version of Yes' Soon - with Machin's slide guitar melodies.

Following a 20 or so minute break - the band came back for the second set which was largely focused around new material. The opening number of the new album All Around the World kicked things off, which is another track that feels like a real Karnataka classic now. It is another lengthy piece, but it is packed full of melody from the off - with one of the biggest choruses on the new album. I am sure that plenty of those in attendance enjoyed singing along to the massive hooks - and it is another song which included some big guitar moments from Machin, with his solo during the song's mid-section being one of the shreddiest of the night. The more plaintive Sacrifice followed, which is another ever-present song in the set at the moment. It is another very memorable one melody-wise, but it has much more of an emotional weight throughout - and some of the symphonic moments of the song hark back to the band's previous era, whilst ensuring the the band's classic smoothness remains. Sertari always shines whenever she sings with the band, but Sacrifice often brings out one of her best performances of the night - and last night in Tavistock was no different. The only older song in the second set was the oldest of the night - harking back to 2000's The Storm. In contrast to the lengthy and atmospheric songs around it, Dreamer allowed for a shorter moment of fun. It always always been one of the catchiest and most upbeat songs in the band's catalogue - which largely sets it apart from their core sound. It often works as a good pallet cleanser live, then, and the shorter song was another which allowed the rhythm section a bit more space to do their thing - whilst Machin included some wah-drenched riffing. The main set then came to a close with the near 25 minute epic Requiem for a Dream - a song which has felt like the centrepiece of the band's sets since the new album came out. For me, it is a song which is still growing. It moves through so many different moods on its overall journey - but it covers a lot of typical Karnataka ground. Despite its length, though, it is not the most explosive when it comes to guitar playing. There are some short solos and lead-based moments, plus Machin does get a chance to use his slide later on in the piece, but it never really cuts loose as it sometimes feels it is about to - with the track being more about its overall atmosphere, mood, and the varied vocal performance of Sertari. Wilsher was busy throughout, too, with the track an atmospheric and symphonic feast. Plenty of different keyboard textures were on show throughout and it brought the main set to a powerful close - with the ending coda ringing around the venue as the band left the stage. Machin and Wilsher soon returned, though, with the former launching into a lengthy guitar solo which acted as an elongated intro to the night's final number. There were lots of emotional leads and shredded motifs on display - but the synths ensured that the solo spot morphed effortlessly into Heart of Stone, another song which had been out of the set for a few years. It is another old favourite of mine, and Sertari sang it perfectly - with the Marillion-esque closing few minutes feeling like a triumphant way in which to end the show. There were plenty of cheers as the band took their bows and it is clear that the Tavistock faithful found a lot to enjoy in the set which had just finished. The setlist was:

The Serpent and the Sea

Your World

Say Goodbye Tomorrow

Delicate Flame of Desire

Forbidden Dreams

Forgiven

Soon [Yes cover]

-

All Around the World

Sacrifice

Dreamer

Requiem for a Dream

-

Heart of Stone

Karnataka's trips to Tavistock are always welcome - but last night's was likely one of the best due to the larger turnout and a set which included some songs which had not been played live all that often in recent years. It felt well-balanced and showcased each era of the band nicely - whilst still paying a lot of attention to the new album. Jones indicated that next year would be a big year for the band touring-wise - so hopefully they will be back in Tavistock at some point. I imagine that the next album is being worked on, too, so maybe soon we will start to hear about what is next for the band.