JESS GLYNNE | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Thurs 1 Dec
Thriving English singer-songwriter Jess Glynne’s nine-date Take Me Home tour of the UK and Ireland concluded in the heart of the small nation. A multitude formed an organised line that stretched around the entire Motorpoint Arena, ahead of this sold-out concert. Venue staff, usually found selling overpriced alcoholic beverages, were instead advertising glossy tour programmes – inevitably picked up by chaperones accompanying adolescent fans, in order to milk a slightly larger profit from the tour (along with VIP packages, slightly disappointing to see on sale).
The symphonic introduction of Raye’s backing band was reminiscent of a film opening sequence. Walking out in jeans and a baggy t-shirt, deep house beats set off heavy reverberations and morphed into music that resembled a stripped-back Nicki Minaj. Her short setlist included her single alongside Jonas Blue, By Your Side, and a simple yet effective cover of Daniel Bedingfield’s Gotta Get Thru This. Probably still suited for smaller venues, Raye may yet experience chart topping glory.
Most radio fanatics and heavy commuters would know of Wretch 32 from singles like 6 Words, Don’t Go and All A Dream. Entertaining as it was to be reminded of such infectious tracks, the main support’s performance felt professional, rather than passionate. Other elements were also a contributing factor: lighting technicians stripped back everything for the opening, later unleashing a flurry of intermittent flares to conclude, which certainly felt backwards. Wretch’s incessant questioning of the audience, asking “are you still there?”, weighed on the patience too. Strong songs but a transparent live show.
Jess Glynne’s backing band walked out in purple parade outfits – most likely in reference to the video for her hit single Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself) and stood firmly in place as they waited for the opening note. Swaying left to right in a confident groove, Strawberry Fields began with a three-screen video montage of Glynne herself – before, rising from the ground in theatrical fashion, the headliner rolled straight into the aforementioned song. Confetti cannons were her weapon of choice, pink paper showering the room as she approached the front of the stage with a huge grin.
Big numbers from 2015’s I Cry When I Laugh, from the emotional rollercoaster of Take Me Home to the heart-pumping optimism of Real Love, were all the rage amongst the small children dancing in between rocking parents and tweens singing into each other’s faces. With birthday wishes issued out to band member Dominic Grant and two song covers, including Prince’s I Feel For You, there was a variety in song choice but, in various outfit modifications and a dependency on her rising and falling vibrato technique, a noticeable diva factor too – right down to covering queen of divas, Beyonce, with Déjà Vu.
Finishing the well-rounded performance with an encore of Why Me and the ever-popular Hold My Hand, it was evident that her popularity with the Welsh would make her show next year in Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli, a hot ticket.
words and photos NATHAN ROACH