Recent gigs I
have attended have been rooted in the folk tradition, so the Welsh rock of The Joy Formidable
represented something of a cultural shock. There was nothing
stripped down about this show, with an illuminated wolf logo to represent the
album giving its name to this tour, and hyperactive projections on a huge
screen behind the stage. The volume was shattering, and nobody could complain
about a lack of bass energy. Dramatic pre-recorded music was used as the band
entered the stage, and it felt choreographed for an even larger venue than this
one. This must reflect their recent support for Muse, in stadiums, and their ambition to headline arenas.
The whole show was a celebration of extroversion. Ritzy Byran’s
high energy dancing held the attention of even the most easily bored, as she moved around the stage freely, frequently hanging over the edge. Much to the
excitement of fans, she came into the front of the crowd at the end of the
encores, allowing them to touch her hands and guitar like a medieval pope. There’s
no doubting her commitment, or ability to whip up an audience into a frenzy.
The music was thick textured, with layers of guitar, loops,
pedals and stomach punchingly loud drumming. It's been described as 'stadium shoegaze', but there's nothing relaxing and little reflective about it. Ritzy’s smile was winning, and her
relationship with loyal fans- one of whom she remembered from a gig in the tiny
Night and Day Café in Manchester a few years ago- showed genuine engagement.
She also showed impressive diplomacy skills in defusing a potentially
unpleasant situation in the crowd and was a commanding presence on stage.
So as a show, this couldn’t be faulted, and I’m sure for most
present it was a memorable night. Yet, crucially, I have reservations about a
lack of depth in the music. Wolf’s Law, their second album, has had a mixed
reception, and whilst it may attempt to explore a wider range of sounds than the debut
Roar, it sounded monochromatic once the initial, shatting impression wore off. It was difficult not to think about the night before when Little Green Cars had shown the power of subtlety and dynamics, which transcended their lack of stage experience. I craved the innovation
of Alt-J, or the rootsy warm heart of Dawes or The Lumineers.
This is a personal blog, not a professional review site, and
so I make no claims of objectivity. The central emotion in music is love,
yet this show seemed to engender aggression in certain parts of the audience, doubtless
fuelled by alcohol. I've enjoyed the Joy Formidable previously in the more
relaxed atmosphere of a festival, but I was in a different place last night to others. I'm hopeful that a
return to Icelandic music (after Of Monsters and Men) at my next show will be more
cerebral and in tune with my introversion. Yet, if you want to be stimulated and value the visual and visceral aspects of a gig as much as the music, you'll enjoy The Joy Formidable more than I did.
Setlist
- Cholla
- Austere
- This Ladder is Ours
- The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade
- Little Blimp
- While the Flies
- Cradle
- Tendons
- Silent Treatment
- Maw Maw Song
- I Don't Want to See You Like This
- The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie
- Forest Serenade
- Wolf's Law
- Whirring
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