Gig Review: Witch Post At The Horse Hospital
The Scottish-American duo proved they have a musical synergy that defies distance (and shines through a power cut).
“There’s a ghost in here! I think it’s the horse ghosts…” Witch Post declared partway through their set. We were in the Horse Hospital – a Grade II-listed independent arts venue in central London – and the power had just cut out, plunging us into darkness.
The transatlantic duo, Dylan Fraser and Alaska Reid, are no strangers to spooky occurrences, crossing paths somewhat serendipitously before discovering they both grew up in Livingston – one a small town in Scotland, the other a small town in Montana. Their name comes from 17th-century wooden posts carved with the St Andrew’s cross to ward off witchcraft, though there was undeniable alchemy onstage as Fraser’s gravelly, wistful tone grounded Reid’s airy vocals. Witch Post struck a delicate balance – they were wholly immersed in their performance as if in a world of their own, but with mesmerising harmonies and compelling stage presence, the audience was invited in.
“I can’t see my guitar,” Fraser laughed as power was semi-restored. “So we’ll see how this goes.” Spoiler: it went very well.
The evening wove together tracks from Witch Post’s two EPs, last year’s ‘Beast’ and ‘Butterfly’, which was released in March. They are aptly named – ‘The Wolf’ from their first record was delivered with razor-sharp riffs onstage, while ‘Country Sour’ from their second is a jangly, laid-back indie rocker that got the crowd swaying. It is this blend of heavy and light, intense and soft, which made for such a captivating set.
A haunting, guitar-driven rendition of ‘Scarborough Fair’, the traditional English folk ballad popularised by Simon & Garfunkel, fit in beautifully between Witch Post’s own songs of complicated love intertwined with vivid folklore influences. Take ‘Witching Hour’, named after a time of night typically associated with supernatural events. For Witch Post, it’s a time to ruminate on relationship shortcomings – “sometimes I try so hard but I still get you down,” Reid sang tenderly, her voice melting into Fraser’s croon against a haze of brooding percussion. ‘Vampire’, which the pair introduced as their first co-written song before Witch Post was conceived, told a tale of obsessive desire, brought to life onstage by harmonious vocals and fuzzy guitars aplenty.
The night ended on a high with the irresistible grunge-tinged groove of ‘Chill Out’ before Fraser and Reid swiftly disappeared from the stage. ‘Have you seen Witch Post?’ posters at the merch table read. If you haven’t, this spellbinding alt-rock duo is one to keep firmly on your radar.
Photography By: Elif Gönen