CHOON

Glasvegas – NME Awards Tour @ Cardiff University

So as the whistle blew on the Wales V England match, students, adults and the odd “raver” poured into Cardiff University’s Student’s Union for the this year’s installment of the NME Tour.

Opening the show was Florence and the Machine.  Accompanied by a harp, which can never be a bad thing Florence, in a scarlet red dress to match her brilliant red hair, set the stage with flowers, and set the audiences expectations high. Performing tracks off her new album and finishing up with “Kiss with a Fist”, Florence Welch performed her little socks off. Something tells me (people, blogs, magazines) she will be big this year. She owned the stage as she threw herself around, and threw me a flower in a Kate Bush-esque fashion. 

Next up – White Lies. I was suitably impressed. I have never been that into them, seeing as they didn’t seem altogether different from the next band. Arguing over whether they sound like The Bravery or Editors seems to suggest to me that they’re nothing new. But they sounded so good live, their songs, many of which are anthems already, made it impossible not to enjoy.  I tried, but I ended up bopping about like a regular little teenage girl. A bad sign, seeing as I am 23. 

St Albans’ disco dancing, strobe lighting Friendly Fires were the penultimate act to take the stage. Unfortunately, we’d moved out of the “pit” and didn’t really get the whole vibe from the back/side/middle to back. People never seem to get the point of gigs at the back. Let’s just say I’d let them find me a French Boy any day… 

Then a shock, people started leaving before the Headliner, in hoards, even dropping their drinks to make a quick exit. “Here they fucking go”, luckily for me, this made way for a smooth transition from the side to the second row, Glasvegas were on stage, avec Wkd and Red Stripe. James Allen’s hair taking its own personal space as a member of the band… 

As for the music, “Flower’s and Football Tops” sounded incredible, the base resonating through the audience. “Geraldine” and “Daddy’s Gone” were a proper Scottish affair. The thing I love about Glasvegas is that they dare to be themselves… their lyrics are introverted yet funny, and their style is undoubtedly patriotic.  Those that can appreciate them can appreciate how they unite an audience, and those that can’t, well that just makes them that little more special.  

By Ruth Harrison