THE NAKED AND FAMOUS/ SONS AND LOVERS
- The Junction 1, Cambridge 1/7/14
The first thing I notice tonight is that there are lots of really
young people here. The benefit of this is that they are also really
short so I have a great view of the stage and support band, London-based
quartet, Sons and Lovers, who also look really young, the lead singer
at least thirteen. The plus one says that he is the most un-frontman
frontman hes ever seen. I guess that by this he means that he
looks a bit awkward. We disagreed on this. Though he does have foppish
hair, his performance consisting of lots of exaggerated hand gestures
and pointing and an equally as exaggerated British accent, Sons and
Lovers were nevertheless harmlessly enjoyable. With a set of mostly
anthemic and romantic tunes, such as recent single Ghosts
and other tracks about setting hearts on fire, they err on the side
of whats popular at the moment in the UK music scene, with remnants
of Bastille in the drumming style and the 1975 for the rest of it.
The plus one slated them for their over-use of delay and did a great
impression of them afterwards but on the whole they appear to be warming
up the audience, which is the main thing, though at the time I thought
they were catchy and I dont remember them now.
Despite the fact that I am, of course, already aware of New Zealands
The Naked and Famous, they have been super-hyped to me by some of
the Cambridge music glitterati before they come on stage. They changed
lives last time they came to The Junction apparently, because they
fuse rock and pop in a way that inspires and delights even the most
stalwart of metal fans. Spanning genres is definitely what they do
best, this is true. In a week where Kasabian have been accused of
becoming a tub-thumping parody of themselves, the Naked and Famous
are amongst the bands who are asking doesnt anyone want
to have fun anymore? The answer tonight is definitely yes.
Opening with A stillness, an energetic track that sees
founding member, guitarist and vocalist, Thom Powers, flicking his
hair more times than you can say you need more brillo cream
on that?, theirs is a tight set, well-rehearsed and including
muchos opportunities to sing along (Rolling waves) and
move (er, most of the other tracks, such as Girls like you,
Punching in a dream and new single I kill giants).
An epic lightshow makes their music seem even more extraordinary,
dancing off singer Alisa Xayalith and her now-bleached crop as she
gets friendly with the audience and they all completely worship her
in return. By the time their best known song Young blood
completes their show in a perfect feel-good punch to the air, the
crowd can hardly believe its over as they jump, clap and scream
for more from the band that know better than most how to write a good
chorus. The plus one said that The Naked and Famous are a modern day
Roxette. Well, if this is the new joyride then it
must have been love. Sorry.
Words and pix by Anna C
www.thenakedandfamous.com
http://www.sons-and-lovers.com/