DEAF HAVANA / THE LAFONTAINES | LIVE REVIEW
Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 15 Mar
In their 14 years as a band, Deaf Havana have undergone countless shifts in their sound – from their post-hardcore roots through to their alt-rock days, to latest, synth-heavy album Rituals. Following a string of European dates and a one-off Brixton gig back in December, Cardiff was up first for the UK stint of their tour.
Due to the classic Welsh rain and a last-minute venue change from the larger Great Hall downstairs, the night was off to a rocky start – swiftly redeemed, though, by Scottish rockers The LaFontaines. The audience warmed to them immediately and were even shouting for more a mere three songs into their set. The contrast between Jamie Keenan’s soaring vocals and high energy rapping from Kerr Okan, fuelled by the band’s driving riffs, turned a soggy crowd into a sea of outstretched arms in no time.
Bathed in pink light from the neon cross centre stage, anticipation buzzed through Y Plas during the changeover, the audience eager to see a band who’ve played a handful of UK shows in the past year. Opening with Fever then slamming into Mildred, Deaf Havana kicked off with slightly older material and were met with adoration from the diverse crowd. Considering how wildly different their debut album Meet Me Halfway, At Least is to their latest one, I was curious beforehand to see how this would pan out, and their fans were bound to be too.
Critics may be split in their opinion on the group’s new stuff, but the crowd was not. That same energy so unique to Deaf Havana was still there, and combined with their tight musicianship, solid stage presence, and frontman James Veck-Gilodi’s raw vocals, they’re still as catchy as ever. Smashing through a mixed setlist of old and new with tracks such as Cassiopeia, Hell, Holy, I’m A Bore Mostly and Trigger, there was something to suit long-time and new fans alike. The few stripped-back versions performed provided a welcome breather in such an intense set. Closing with a triumphant singalong encore of Sinner, Deaf Havana’s nostalgia fused storytelling created that electric atmosphere so signature to them once again.
words HANNAH NICHOLSON TOTTLE photos JASPER WILKINS