Sometimes, when a tour gets announced I can spend days on
end agonising over what venue to get tickets for. I analyse the pros and cons
of the acoustics, the location, the date and the capacity. Every detail falls
under scrutiny.
This was not one of those times.
Lonely the Brave are one of the most magical sounding bands
in the top 40 at the moment, not to mention the most intense performers around.
So when you see them billed to play a church – you go.
All Saints Church in Kingston is a beautiful place filled
with architectural marvel and steeped in history (the first King of England –
Athelstan – was crowned there in 925 AD.)
It continues to be at the centre of Kingston’s community,
regularly using music as part of its day-to-day operations and playing host to
some pretty special shows.
Lonely the Brave released their second album, Things Will Matter, earlier this month
and have embarked on what appears to be a non-stop tour embellished with
festival appearances.
The Cambridge quintet’s hypnotic melodies reverberated
through the church and filled the otherwise
calm and tranquil venue. 
The crowd were respectfully hushed, presumably breathless, only
applauding at the end of every perfectly executed track.
That being said, grown men were heard to squeal in
excitement as each song started.
Backroads, from
the debut EP The Day’s War continues
to carry incredibly well on stage, only getting stronger each time I hear it
live.
As performer’s Lonely The Brave are exceptionally intense.
Vocalist David Jakes tends to linger towards the back of the stage allowing his
powerful voice to do the work for him.
Lonely The Brave are not the types for stage shenanigans.
They don’t need to be. The stunning nature of their sound ticks all the boxes
on its own.
Besides, how much performance do you need when the back drop
is a giant stain-glass window lit up in pink glory?
Tonight Lonely The Brave also showcased their second album, Things Will Matter, in fervid style. As
a band they are moving from strength to strength only becoming more entrancing
as they do it.
This leg of the UK tour continues and a whole bunch of new UK dates have been announced for October too:
New October UK tour dates:
03/10/16 - Brighton – The Haunt*
04/10/16 - Southend – Chinnerys*
06/10/16 - London – Camden Electric Ballroom*
07/10/16 - Bristol – Marble Factory*
10/10/16 - Nottingham – Rescue Rooms*
11/10/16 - Glasgow – King Tuts*
14/10/16 - Leicester – 02 Academy*
15/10/16 - Leeds – The Key Club*
18/10/16 - Oxford – 02 Academy*
19/10/16 - Hull – Welly*
21/10/16 - Birmingham – 02 Academy*
22/10/16 - Cardiff – SWN Festival. The Tramshed
*w/special guests Tall Ships
Please note: Tickets for the October tour will be available on Tuesday 31st May at: www.lonelythebrave.com
Yes! I got through the whole of this review without
mentioning The Hydro show last May!
Oh wait. DAMNIT!
