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NME Radar Tour Ft: Joy Formidable, Chapel Club Plus Special Guests
La Roux, Friendly Fires, Marina and the Diamonds... you can't imagine a time where you didn't recognise those names, right? Well believe it or not there really was a world without these bands. A time where they were 'unknowns' as much as your little brother's mate's band who you've been forced to see more times than you care to remember. The difference is, they were plucked from the wearing and agonising horrors of that place 'obscurity' as they were given their time to shine and showcase their talents on NME'S Radar Tour. It’s the annual show to see to catch 'the next big thing' in the most intimate of venues. This year, its time to become better acquainted with The Joy Formidable and Chapel Club.
If a band's brilliance was measured on the impact and effect their music had on their fans alone, then The Joy Formidable would have shot to superstardom years ago. Everywhere they go, they will always have their hard core of followers that can anthemically recite every word, arms flung wide and eyes shut tight with musical ecstasy. Don't let this put you off if you aren't part of this set. There are enough 'woah-oh' and 'ahhhh ah' moments for even The Joy Formidable virgin to participate in. They are a band that can bring the contradictive intimate openness and freedom to a room that you can only usually experience at a festival. The grandeur, drama and atmosphere created by the power pop-meets 90's rock with the slightest hint of grunge; along with the beautifully wandering voice of frontwoman Ritzy Bryan takes you on a journey. The 'primal epic rock' produced by the Welsh three-piece gives you feelings of exhilaration and a sense of the purest emphatic power like waves crashing against a cliff face or the wind sweeping across an endlessly lonely moorland. Its difficult to avoid getting wrapped up in poetic cliches with a band like this, but with one listen to fan favourites like 'Cradle', 'Austere' and 'Popinjay' you too will feel yourself being swept up with the enigma that is The Joy Formidable. And Chapel Club are a band that can be confident in sharing a stage with a band like this.
One of Britain's most exciting and highly hyped prospects, Chapel Club are a band that fills in the blanks that are left by a lot of other bands of the moment. It’s a very useful skill to have. It means they can appeal to the fans of many other artists but still remain to bring something entirely unique to soak up and enjoy. It has been said that they are a band that could even dare to compare themselves to the likes of Joy Division, with frontman Lewis Bowman bringing something distinctly Curtis-esque to the stage. Any band whose show could appeal to anyone who missed the chance to see the late great icon is bound to go far. The general vibe from the band embodies that gorgeously dark 80's atmospheric doom-pop that we have seen revived in the catchy hooks of White Lies and the gloomy yet vulnerable poetry of Glasvegas. Topped off with wry witticisms in the lyrics and an enveloping grandeur in the swathes of sound, you will leave the show very much aware of the fact Chapel Club are going far.
The NME Radar Tour is coming to Manchester Academy 3 on Monday 4th October. It is highly probable that this will be your last chance to see these bands in such a small venue.... |
