It was a cold night in Sheffield, my camera was failing and I went into Bungalows and Bears for sanctuary (and maybe some pear cider).

In a clear contrast to the bitter unforgiving cold outside, inside there was a band playing and their style was attention-grabbing. Their name is La Shark.

It was weird at first. Lead singer Samuel Geronimo Deschamps was away from the stage, while the rest of the band played relentlessly to the sound of a very strange musical composition. Sometimes it had some elements of math rock, sometimes it was very synth pop.

Meanwhile, Samuel Geronimo was doing a lot of hijinks. Cartwheels, jumping up and down futons, climbing one of the pillars of the place (declaring it a great and terrifying look of Bungalows and Bears), smearing shoe paint in his chest and finally, rollerskating on the bar (which he did apologise for).

Now, before you think the whole gig was the band playing backup music to the singer’s shenanigans, I’d like to point out that they were all great musicians, with a particular emphasis on how good their rhythm section (Love Maynard– bass and N.H.A. Buxton – drums) were. They never missed a beat and they had those strange time signatures that are so delectable.

And that cider? Never got it. Still mesmerised by La Shark’s show.

—Sam

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