Bartertown – Clare Inn: August 20, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
It takes David Rowe aka Bartertown a full three songs to warm up for his solo gig at the Clare Inn. But when he gets there on the fourth number, Fire on the Lighthouse, he gives the audience a glimpse of what could be achieved with some quelled nerves and a few more gigs under the belt.
Fire on the Lighthouse is the title track from his debut EP released in April 2024 which may explain the relative ease Rowe is obviously feeling on this song, a more melodic, slower and gentler number from his normal fare.
“Take me to the beach, lose all your light and cast the dark aside.”
It’s a taut, dark and mysterious number typical of Bartertown, but delivered with more emotional restraint and less of the thrashy metal associated with most of his music.
The songs in Rowe’s limited set are a run through of the fantasy-metal sub-culture genre that has found fans in some far-flung corners of the world. Apparently, Rowe attracts quite a few listeners in Poland and Finland.
Rowe blends thrashy guitars and grungy chords with lyrics that bring Nick Cave’s Birthday Party era songs to mind (without the rockabilly swing).
Rowe tackles heavy subjects – The Shock of War – to more fantastical topics – Ride with the Dragon – anchored in distorted guitars overlain with a voice that ranges from a soft, menacing bass to angsty falsetto.
There’s an occasional glam rock feel to his music that could do with a little more stage craft to back it up.
In fact, most of these songs could do with a little more volume and a lot more bravado. A couple of extra band members wouldn’t go amiss to give these tracks a full rendition of what they could be.
It’s early days for the Bartertown show. But what’s on display is worth revisiting.
Alex Robertson
