DON BROCO | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Sat 10 Feb
Don Broco receive a deservedly raucous reception tonight, Cardiff Students Union overflowing with excited fans. Sure, the studio versions of the songs on display tonight are great, but a record as ambitious as their new album Technology, warrants an equally stunning live show. We may only be seeing this band take bloom, edging their way into more experimental territory, yet they’re met with the welcome of a festival audience, every song provoking huge singalongs and frenetic liveliness.
First to the stage are Press To MECO, whose soaring melodies and bouncy guitar/drum patterns help to heighten the energy in the room. Their attempts at audience participation might be hit and miss, but it’s clear they are having the time of their lives supporting a band who not long ago were in the same upcoming position as themselves. Next, Japan’s Man With A Mission grant us a treat: they are wolves who perform an electronica-metal hybrid. At least, I think they are – otherwise, those large furry head masks are pretty convincing. Joking aside, their sense of fun and genre fusion makes them a truly intriguing spectacle.
After a long wait, it is finally time for the main event: the opening howls of Pretty, from Don Broco’s new album, instantly amplify the enthusiasm in here. “You are always one of the rowdiest audiences,” declares frontman Rob Damiani, before allowing the crowd to prove him right as renditions of Fire and Stay Ignorant incite near-venue-wide circle pits. Making sure the fans have a spectacular time, a few favourites do not go amiss. Superlove and Automatic serve as classic callbacks to second-album era Don Broco, while Further, a personal favourite of this writer, leads to an inspiring singalong. There are even a few surprises chucked into the setlist: the live debut of new song Porkies, and the first song the band ever wrote, Thug Workout.
Approaching the end of our time together, Don Broco pause to take a photograph with their capacity crowd; their popularity, you suspect, will soon force them to outgrow venues of this size. Leaving us with a memorable encore of Come Out To LA and T-Shirt Song, we walk away with the warm feeling that both band and audience had an astounding experience.
words ALEX SWIFT photos JASPER WILKINS