It’s a cold night and we’re blazing down the M1 in the midst of blustery winds and occasional bursts of torrential rain, neither of which make for the most enjoyable of drives. It’s the last gig of a busy year for SonicAbuse but, even with the fantastic wealth of events we’ve covered in 2025, there’s something special about this one – the debut tour of Drink the Sea.
A supergroup (although you have to wonder just how much value the various members of the band would place on such a term), Drink the Sea is a project featuring Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season), Alain Johannes (QOTSA, Puscifer), Duke Garwood (Mark Lanegan), Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Lisette Garcia (Barrett Martin Group), and Abbey Blackwell (Alvvays, La Luz). Driven, at least in part, by Barrett’s travels, both as a touring musician and as part of his remarkable Singing Earth series, the band are linked by their openness to new musical ideas and a rare telepathy that often finds them reinterpreting songs on the fly, with the result that, even for those familiar with their wonderful double album, there’s a freshness to their performance that is utterly engaging.
Part of the appeal of Drink the Sea is laid bare onstage before the band ever play a note. As the band pointed out in a recent interview, they’re low-key individuals whose passion lies in the creation of music, not the mythology of the rock star. As such, the stage is remarkably uncluttered. No fancy amps. No hulking great stacks. No massive backdrop. Just the equipment of a touring rock band, out to make great music and all but free of the commercial trappings that all too often goes hand in hand with a long-term industry career.
If anything, this laid-back staging only adds to the anticipation. It is, I suppose, a corollary to the excitement I felt when the album arrived – seeing how the band interpret their own catalogue – but, despite the fact that this gig has been on the calendar for months, I can’t quite believe I’m here, in such an intimate venue, to celebrate such a stunning work.
With no support featured this evening, Camden’s famed Jazz Café slowly fills as we approach the 8:30 kick off. It’s a full house, with people jostling for space as Drink the Sea amble on stage, heading straight into the jazzy, dark, and strangely beautiful Shaking for the Snakes. With the band playing with that same rare subtlety found on record, it’s a beguiling entrance, the only mild complaint being that the vocals struggle in the mix, an issue that only partially resolves itself across the evening.
Following a quick intro from master of ceremonies Barrett – always the first to make sure everyone gets their due – the band dip their collective toes into the jazzy waters of Saturn Calling, with Alain on vocals, Duke on shakers, and the band offering up a light, almost funky vibe. Here, the sound is amazing, the performance intuitive, with the various members of Drink the Sea watching one another for their cues. Being close to the stage, it’s a pleasure to see the different personalities on display – Lisette smiling and dancing behind her array of percussive instruments, Abbey a little more serious behind the bass, and Peter lost in the moment – it’s all part of the rich tapestry that makes Drink the Sea so special.
From there, the band take us on a journey around the world, greatly aided by the films of Tad Fettig (of course, introduced by Barrett). For highlights, it’s tempting to pick the setlist but, for tracks which seem to draw you into another world altogether, I’d commend to your attention the likes of Pour Your Glow On – an earthy rocker; the experimental percussion and soprano saxophone of Sacred Tree – part Miles Davis, part Mark Lanegan psychedelic haze; the gorgeous Bembe For Two, which finds Duke watching Alain intently as he awaits his cue to return to the sax; or the slow-burning Embers, which offers the intriguing sight of Barrett conjuring shards of gorgeous melody from the vibraphone with a violin bow.
It’s riveting and, for the most part, only tangentially connected to the bands with which these artists made their names. There are moments, though, where the threads are more obvious. Sip The Juice finds Alain and Peter summoning swathes of arcing feedback, before Barrett drives the band into a loose-limbed blues jam of unearthly wonder, elements of Mad Season and Screaming Trees shot through the mix. Equally, the up-tempo Strangest Season (which finds us clapping along with Barrett) nods to R.E.M., a connection further cemented when Duke grips the mic stand as if his life depends upon it – a stance that recalls Michael Stipe to an uncanny degree.
Somewhat inevitably, the biggest cheers are reserved for more familiar fare, which is sprinkled throughout the set like fairy dust. The first such piece is Mad Season’s Long Gone Day (also aired by Barrett and Duke during the Singing Earth tour) and it is, of course, wonderful to hear this oh-so-familiar song played by people who were there and who worked so closely with Mark and Layne. At the same time, it’s a shame that familiarity always seems to trump artistic expression when it comes to popular music but, from the chatter coming from a small but annoyingly vocal portion of the crowd, there’s a sense that there are at least some here tonight who would rather the band stuck to established paths.
Fortunately, Drink the Sea are intent on following their muse and, a handful of concluding numbers notwithstanding, they remain focused on their stunning debut, exploring everything from the Latin rhythms of Paredes to the folksy charm of Where We Belong, via the Middle Eastern vibes of Spirit Away. There are even moments of astonishing delicacy, such as Butterfly and Meteors, the latter featuring a jaw-dropping performance from Alain, which has the eyes of the band and audience alike fixed upon him. In contrast, Rose Crested Sky is pure desert rock, Duke allowing a grungy tone to creep into his guitar work, his acid-tipped riffs only partially sweetened by Lisette’s vibraphone and Barrett’s deft work behind the kit.
Drink The Sea are every bit as remarkable live as they are on record. However, they are not necessarily an easy prospect, and they are surely not for those expecting a quick jaunt across the various members’ storied pasts. Indeed, over the course of a two-and-a-half-hour performance, the band air just four tracks not drawn from their debut. However, their confidence is not misplaced. This is remarkable music that plays as much to the heart as to the head and, while there are those who, perhaps, aren’t willing to invest the time or emotion necessary, there are plenty more who are willing to embrace the changes and hang off every note.
I came to Drink the Sea expecting something special and the band more than delivered. Camden’s Jazz Café is a lovely venue – the perfect spot for the band’s debut in London – and the band are exquisite. Where Drink the Sea go next (if they go anywhere at all) is anybody’s guess but, with the chemistry so immediate, it would be a shame if they didn’t continue. With a debut that already stands apart from anything the various members have done before, Drink the Sea provide a timely reminder of the raw power of live performance, and they offer something that is both musically original and emotionally powerful. Don’t miss out.
