THE AMAZONS | LIVE REVIEW
Tramshed, Cardiff, Mon 9 Oct
Whilst most of Cardiff were sat on their sofas, in the pub or indeed in the nearby Cardiff City Stadium, glued to the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Ireland, a smaller number were tucked away in the Tramshed, awaiting The Amazons’ arrival onstage. Relatively new to the business, having formed in 2014, the Reading four-piece have been honing their skills on the road and festivals alike, and have picked up a growing fanbase and critical acclaim from the likes of NME, the Guardian and Radio 1. You couldn’t turn on your radio this year without hearing these guys trailed as ‘ones to watch’.
Bouncing on stage with an energy that reflects their youth, The Amazons surprise with a harder indie-rock sound live than on their radio hits. Initial impressions recall a young Vaccines, while lead singer Matt Thomson’s commanding vocals are akin to Dave Grohl. They pump out hit after hit from their self-titled 2017 debut album, and are supported with impressive lighting for a tour of this size. All of which leave the crowd in high spirits – even the announcement, mid-gig that Wales had lost to Ireland did not dampen the atmosphere. (I was obviously the only Irish person there, getting some unimpressed looks when I cheered.)
Junk Food Forever and Stay With Me were the evening’s standout performances, but nothing compared to the reception Black Magic and Little Something received, those being their most bankable hits. Yet The Amazons mix genres so effortlessly that it’s hard to define them: an early-00s indie sound, classic festival rock and elements of electro and folk. Very well polished, with a live set that’s strong, energetic and extremely impressive for a band arguably still in their infancy. Matt, Chris, Elliot and Joe do what they do very well, and if The Amazons work as hard on their music as they do on stage then they’re sure to be headlining festivals in no time.
words DENIECE CUSACK photos JONATHAN HERRON