Monday 1 November 2010

The Joy Formidable, O2 Academy 2, 5th October

The Joy Formidable play tonight as part of the NME Radar tour. After the performance they gave, they’ve plonked themselves well and truly on the map.

After an interesting set (in the broadest sense of the word) by support act the Flats, followed by Chapel Club, the crowd rapturously applaud the Joy Formidable on stage. The North Wales three piece outfit suit their name – they are a joy to watch and will be a formidable presence in the music industry. Songs such ‘Greyhounds in the Slips’ and the amusingly titled ‘My Beerdrunk Soul is Sadder Than a Hundred Dead Christmas Trees’ sound fantastic live, the drummer Matt Thomas in particular giving the performance of his life. Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd make an endearing pair on vocals, making good interaction with the crowd and declaring their love of Newcastle. T

here really is little to fault about their performance, and new single ‘I Don’t Want To See You Like This’ is an instant crowd pleaser. Their climatic final song is played with such ferocity, such commitment and passion, it is almost mesmerising to watch. Ritzy Bryan swoons round the stage, waving her guitar around, turning knobs and dials scattered across the stage, all of which keeps the mood of the music unpredictable, engrossing and original. Once their new album, ‘The Big Roar’, is released, the only way is up for these Welsh rockers. The reassuring thing is, they thoroughly deserve it.

Michael Worthington

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