EMBRACE | LIVE REVIEW
Tramshed, Cardiff, Sun 1 Apr
Emerging from the bombast of the late 90s music scene, Embrace were the perfect antidote to the laddish swagger of Britpop. Debut album The Good Will Out arrived to critical and commercial success; bursting with rousing anthems, beautiful introspection and heartfelt lyrics, Embrace set the blueprint for others to follow. Whilst some bands of the same era imploded, or fell out of fashion, Embrace continued down their own path, scoring more number one albums and hit singles – but live is where they make a very personal connection with their vociferous fanbase.
Tonight finds them in Cardiff in the company of a thousand devotees (it’s refreshing to see a lot of younger faces in the crowd jockeying for position near the front), promoting their latest album Love Is A Basic Need. Opening with new song Wake Up Call, Embrace set out their stall and cement the fact they are no heritage act. The new songs, especially a poignant All That Remains and the euphoric Never, sit comfortably amongst their older siblings, garnering the same passion from the crowd.
New material aside, we were treated to a pick‘n’mix from their back catalogue. Some songs in life you never tire of, and for me All You Good Good People is that song; I could barely hear Danny McNamara’s vocals over the voices of the throng who sang every line back to them. Meanwhile, the adage about good things coming in threes hits home as Save Me, Gravity and Ashes close the main set.
It’s rare a band survives this long with all its original members, yet alone improves. But this is not any other band. Whilst not afraid to look back, Embrace continue moving forward. A kaleidoscope of emotions is the best way I can describe what the band and audience experienced tonight. There were tears, there was joy, but most of all, a shared moment in time. The stuff memories are made of.
words and photos KEVIN PICK