These late 80s English rock bands are still going, taking a pit stop in the intimate House of Blues venue in Dallas during their 2024 North American Tour.
To kick start 2024, U.K. native bands The Charlatans and Ride are on their North American tour, hitting cities including Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City, and many more.
Opening the night with shoegaze and noise-pop style sounds, Ride created a dreamy ambiance to start the night. Originally from Oxford, England, Ride was formed in 1988 with vocalists and guitarists Andy Bell and Mark Gardener, bassist Steve Queralt, and drummer Laurence Colbert. With their most notable album, “Nowhere,” Ride has since released albums with an expansive and experimental aspect to shoegaze tracks. Ride successfully created a unique and memorable atmosphere for fans to enjoy the start of their night at the House of Blues.
Shortly after Ride left the stage, the exhilarating band The Charlatans didn’t hesitate to kick off their set with an upbeat and energetic performance. Similar to Ride, The Charlatans also formed in 1988 with vocalist Tim Burgess, bassist Martin Blunt, keyboardist Tony Rogers, and guitarist Mark Collins; the Charlatans are known for their psychedelic style of rock music. Initially formed in West Midlands, U.K., this band was well known for their influence in the “Madchester” scene, incorporating acid house and indie rock techniques to the music scene and Manchester. This scene created incredible success for The Charlatans and similar style bands, including The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays.
Playing older tracks from their earlier albums and incorporating newer songs to the setlist, The Charlatans brought a party to Dallas, taking fans back to a “Madchester” and indie rave-style environment. Although The Charlatans are known as an older band, their presence on stage is evidently youthful and fun, incorporating dancing, funky style beats, and psychedelic riffs, leaving the crowd amazed.
With over half of their Northern American tour done, The Charlatans plan to continue with performances, scheduled to play at festivals and solo shows in Great Britain for festivals and solo shows. Ride is also not stopping after this tour, with their newest album, “Interplay,” scheduled to release on March 29th this year. These two talented bands continue to share their music and perform unforgettable shows, carrying on their shoegaze and psychedelic rock to music fans worldwide.
I am currently attending the University of North Texas with a photojournalism major. I love going to concerts of all genres, whether I am stage diving or headbanging, I never miss an opportunity to appreciate live music. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting for CD's and records, spending time with my cats, going to art exhibits, and traveling (especially to NYC). My biggest inspiration is Danny Clinch, and one day I aspire to open up my own gallery to showcase my work!
