EVERYTHING EVERYTHING | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Sat 7 Nov
These four Manchester lads have been on our radios since 2010, and over that time they have proven their worth via an eclectic blend of intelligent, electro-fied pop-rock. Their third studio album Get To Heaven continues their predilection for preaching their sometimes morbid views on the world; however they appeal to the masses by coupling their heavy wording with intensely catchy stylized beats.
Their live setting is electric and their staging is quite impressive for a gig of this size. A large white backdrop is illuminated with a different colour for every song. Drummer Michael Spearman, rather than being hidden at the back, is raised on a large platform – a statement, perhaps, that every aspect of their music is given the same detail and respect.
If you’re not an avid fan then listening to their music at home might seem a bit samey but to hear them live is a whole different experience. Each beat, riff and synth part is clear and precise and emphasized.
There is a vast mix of ages at the show. Maybe it was just the fact that it was a Saturday night gig and the weekend atmosphere heightened the excitement, but the buzz was thrilling. Each song moved effortlessly onto the next, at times feeling more like a DJ set than a live show. This isn’t the type of gig people go to, stand, watch and adore the act; people stood in circles amongst their friends and danced the night away.
The atmosphere is as eclectic as their sound. Regret, Regret, their most recent and recognisable hit, had the crowd’s full attention. The band’s harmonies are intricate and well-rehearsed. Like choirboys, they sang in a sensational unison – again, something that you would probably not pick up on listening to them at home.
The quartet did somewhat squash all their favourites together, after which there seemed to be a lull of sorts. Don’t Try brought the atmosphere back up, however, and the show ended on the wave of that hype with Distant Past.
If you weren’t a fan going in tonight, you would more than likely be one on leaving. An Everything Everything gig is definitely something that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. You’re struck with the feeling of not being quite sure what that was, but liking it.
words DENIECE CUSACK