Henge (Photo Credit: Dave Griffiths)
Henge – Live at the Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, 2025
It’s not every night at the Wedgewood Rooms you’re taken on an intergalactic mission to the planet Voltus B, so who better to do it with than psychedelic electro-rock band Henge.
Having initially come on disguised as scientists to set up their own equipment, it was soon time to jump aboard our spaceship and get ready for take-off. Luckily, the Wedgewood Rooms had a gravity simulator installed, which made it much easier to enjoy the entertainment with our feet on the ground whilst having a much-needed beer.
I had initially considered Henge as being more a live experience than one to listen to on record. However, this time around the solar system, I’ve been hooked on the latest release, “Journey to Voltus B”, a choose-your-own-adventure concept album where the fate of an entire planet is at risk.
Zpor with Nom on drums (Photo Credit: Edouard Carr)
If you’re unfamiliar with the group, this review may take some explaining! After all, there’s a drummer that looks like a relative of Dr. Zoidberg from Futurama, another alien on bass/synth, and a second cloaked synth player who appears fairly “normal” by comparison.
This is then all fronted by our narrator, singer/guitarist Zpor, while wearing a plasma ball on his head… “Greetings, Humans” as Zpor introduces himself, explaining our quest for the evening. As I’m sure you can imagine, from there on in, it all gets very silly…
Henge – Wedgewood Rooms 2025 (Photo Credit: Edouard Carr)
“Greetings, Humans”
As for the musical journey, imagine if Spinal Tap was about Hawkwind playing early Prodigy tunes on an episode of Doctor Who. There are plenty of very odd songs, weird time signatures, fun times and fancy moves from Zpor to keep everyone entertained.
If anything, Henge may have been a little more dance orientated than I’d anticipated – but that’s not a bad thing, just it could potentially divide any hardened space rock fans stuck in a 70s trip. As for tonight, the audience (both young and old) were certainly revelling in the shenanigans, dancing, singing along and joining in with the interspecies banter.
Goo – Synth and bass (Photo Credit: Edouard Carr)
“Demilitarise Your Weapons of War”
There was a brief moment mid-set when I felt like I was in a trance listening to “Charly” by the Prodigy on repeat, but this soon passed with “Get a wriggle on” (from previous Henge album “Alpha Test 4”).
Upon finally reaching our destination of Voltus B, we discovered the mission was a success and we’d arrived safe and unharmed. All that was left to do was celebrate like the Ewoks at the end of Return of the Jedi, rejoicing together for one final song of the night.
This last tune came in the form of “Demilitarise”, with a message that would soon bring us humans back down to earth. It was an anthemic and powerful cry for the world to stop producing weapons of war… which is as poignant today as it ever will be, although whether or not colonising space is the answer is another matter.
Henge – “Journey to Voltus B” out now!
Henge – 2025 (Photo Credit: Edouard Carr)
Henge – Live at the Wedgewood Rooms (Photo Credit: Mr Teeth Reviews)
