THE AMAZONS / THE COLLIER | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Mon 11 Feb
The Collier, an alternative-indie band from Essex, are this evening’s kept-quiet support for Reading’s riotous headliners, The Amazons. The foursome, headed by Daniel Radcliffe lookalike Joshua Hixson, play new material like Falling Out Of Bed which was released in December last year. There’s laughs from the crowd as Hixson converses: “Does anyone know where Essex is? I guess from the show… yeah, we’re not that.” The set ends with a more upbeat tune – slow in start with progression into heavy guitar and drum sound. If only this was the tempo throughout. “Thanks to the Amazons for having us. We’re going to get pissed.”
By the time The Amazons take the stage, the room is full and ready to party – and those in attendance do exactly that, hard. Set opener and new single Mother, released only a few days prior, sets the scene before the band get into the thick of their popular material very quickly: Stay With Me, Ultraviolet and Little Something. It’s a challenge to stay still as the rowdy crowd, mostly of a laddish persuasion, instigate moshpits, and there is chaos throughout. Frontman Matt Thomson takes note of the unruly behaviour and warns to be careful of the people at the front – a kind gesture.
But this excitement cannot be avoided when the music gives off that festival anthem vibe. Big numbers like Black Magic see crowdsurfing, moshing and even fans hanging from the ceiling. The band don’t say much but when they do, it’s to show their appreciation for Wales. Thomson reveals one of their songs was written and recorded in Welsh, during their album writing days, in a studio in Three Cliffs Bay near Swansea.
Closing the set with Junk Food Forever, The Amazons’ audience are on a high and disperse onto Womanby Street buzzing. Not a bad night for sure, confirmed by Thomson who says it’s “the best Monday I’ve had in ages”. I’m not sure how they can top that, but I have no doubts that they’ll find a way for their next appearance here.
words and photos AMY FARRER