Royal Blood, the British duo since 2013, proves a bass and drums can hit like a full-on rock army. Their gig on December 16, 2017, at House of Vans in London was all about that power in a tight space. Mike Kerr sang with such grit and fire, his voice flipping from fierce to melodic, like the heart of the set. His bass, run through pedals, roared like a guitar storm, while Ben Thatcher’s drums pounded like a pulse. The small venue’s acoustics made the sound thick, almost tangible, and the lights, shifting from red to white, played up the mood swings. The packed crowd, swaying and shouting, felt like they merged with that rock energy.