Blaenavon @ Arts Club, Seel Street 29/11/2017
Blaenavon came to town on Wednesday night for a sold out show at the Arts Club as part of their UK tour, with support from Jade Bird and The Night Café.
Almost every venue on Blaenavon’s tour is sold out or is on the verge and their stop over in Liverpool was no different. Their debut album That’s Your Lot was released earlier this year and the band have been on the road almost non stop since, with appearances at festivals and tours across the UK and Europe.
This time round, Blaenavon brought singer-songwriter Jade Bird and Liverpool band The Night Café with them for support.
Starting proceedings was the Londoner Jade Bird, her raw vocals and lively personality filled the large stage of the Arts Club’s main room. With a cover of The Kinks and a collection of her own, it was an eye-opening performance that marks Bird down as one to watch.
The Night Café have been on the radar for awhile now and have already sold out the Arts Club earlier in the year and supported The Wombats in the summer at the Guild of Students, who hold them in high regard. While NME have listed them as a band to watch out of Liverpool. Back on home turf, the band backed up every postive word that’s been said about them.
With their catch indie-pop melodies and an electric energy, they captivated everyone in the Arts Club and put on a performance that made them look like festival headliners rather than a supporting act. The crowd were hooked on every chord struck and each word sung by frontman, Sean Martin. They make you wonder just how long before bigger gigs come their way.
The Night Café return to the Arts Club as headliners on February 2nd, which will mark the beginning of what should be a very exciting 2018 for one of the most exciting bands emerging from Liverpool.
Blaenavon’s live performances have gained a reputation for being a lively affair and their set in the Arts Club was no different. Walking on stage to a rapturous reception, before a song was even performed you could feel the audience were ready for a thrilling night.
The Hampshire trio’s performance was breathtaking as they hit the crowd with soaring guitars, uplifting melodies and lyrics that demanded all to sing along to. With the likes of ‘I Will Be the World’ and fan favourite ‘Prague ‘99’ invoking huge reactions as they exploded with furious instrumentals and passionate singing both on and off the stage. It must’ve been a great sight as frontman Benjamin Gregory and bass player Frank Wright, stood tall on top of the speakers lost in the moment while fans swarmed the floor with mosh pits.
While the band could create a larger than life atmosphere at times, they had the ability to change completely and draw you in with the fragile ‘Alice Come Home’ or dreamy indie vibes with ‘Lonely Side’ and the hypnotic beat and melody of ‘Take Care’.
Blaenavon’s debut album isn’t even a year old yet the band have their eyes on the follow-up to That’s Your Lot, giving us a taster of what’s next by treating us to a new track. Reassuring fans that there won’t be any second album jitters if it were anything to go by.
with infectious songs and a spectacular live show too, Blaenavon are a band headed on an upward trajectory and are showing no sign of slowing down.
