LOS CAMPESINOS! | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Fri 2 Dec
It’s been 10 years since Cardiff natives Los Campesinos! first formed, and tonight sees them return to the venue where they played one of their first ever shows. The tickets sold out within days of the gig being announced, and with the promise of the live debut of brand new songs from the group’s upcoming sixth album Sick Scenes, anticipation is pretty high.
The seven members of LC! take to the stage and play a couple of classic tracks to an enthusiastic crowd, singing along to every word of the likes of I Just Sighed, I Just Sighed, Just So You Know and What Death Leaves Behind. Before more old hits we get the live debut of new single I Broke Up In Amarante, which has the classic LC! blend of angsty lyrics with indiepop hooks and fits in nicely with the rest of tonight’s set. The band’s sound evolved since their first record, taking on a darker tone and a more diverse approach to songwriting which is especially evident on their third full length Romance Is Boring.
The other new tracks offered show the band have stuck to this approach, and go over well with the crowd. Renato Dall’Ara 2008 and A Slow, Slow Death are introduced as being so new even band members’ parents haven’t heard them yet, and the fact that the band have come back to their home town to play them at a sold out show makes you feel lucky to have a ticket.
The remainder of the set is all favourites, from the likes of By Your Hand and Hello Sadness to a standout rendition of Avocado, Baby. Vocalist Gareth David puts a lot of emotion into his delivery, at one point losing his voice a bit during the chorus of Cemetery Gaites. He makes up for it by letting the audience vote for which two songs to play for an encore, the loudest cheers giving us You! Me! Dancing! followed by Miserabilia. Los Campesinos! may not be a household name among Welsh bands but their live show makes them undoubtedly one of the very best.
words MATT LEE photos KIRSTEN MCTERNAN