YEARS & YEARS | LIVE REVIEW
Coopers Field, Cardiff, Fri 12 Aug
It’s been a good few years since my last gig in Coopers Field – Green Day, all the way back in 2002. Fourteen years later, I headed back to the shadow of Cardiff Castle for quite a different affair. Kicking off the 2016 Pride Cymru weekend, a full bill of up-and-coming and established British musical talent was topped by electronic-meets-synthpop trio Years & Years.
Support duties on the night fell to a mixture of hit-and-miss acts. Unfortunately for indie band Nimmo, they had to contest with a rather empty field as the gates opened, while notable Sound Of 2016 longlist artist Izzy Bizu was a real breath of fresh air. Soulful, cool and deserving of the success heading her way right now, hit track White Tiger went down well with the growing crowd. Eclectic dance duo Maribou State appeal to a specific segment of the crowd, and final support act Jax Jones spins a few hits and crowd pleasers as warm-up for Years & Years.
Hitting the stage to the delight of their fans, the English three-piece proceeded to fire through a number of hits from their hit debut album Communion. Frontman Olly Alexander looks genuinely at ease on stage, full of smiles and seemingly proud to be the man of the hour to get Pride Cymru’s weekend of LGBT celebrations off to a start. Not shy to give a few Welsh phrases a go, the vocalist enjoys the crowd interaction and is quick to note that he attended secondary school “up the road’ in Monmouth.
A hail of confetti accompanies a slick, textbook performance, Alexander and band firing through tune after tune. Slower piano number Eyes Shut lets the crowd catch their breath before the tempo gains again and the dazzling trademark lightshow continues. A mash-up cover of Drake’s Hotline Bling and Katy Perry’s Dark Horse gets a thumbs up from all in attendance before the trio head offstage for a quick break. Saving the (arguable) best until last, Y&Y then bring the night to a close with their two best known tracks. Desire and King send the bouncing crowd home humming, screaming, shouting and singing.
A quick shoutout is warranted for the other Y&Y members, bassist Mikey Goldsworthy and keyboardist Emre Türkmen – easily forgotten in the madness, but without whom a band would be very much at a loss. Overall, a great showing by a committed, determined British band, who I’m sure will only keep going from strength to strength after turning heads and more over the last few years.
words OWEN SCOURFIELD photos JONATHAN HERRON