THE VAMPS | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Thurs 7 May
The roof of Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena must have been close to being screamed off on Thursday night, when the teenpop juggernaut of US rockers The Tide, X Factor graduates Union J, and headline act The Vamps rolled into the capital as part of their world tour. Following a solid opening set from Vamps record label signees The Tide and a comprehensive vocal display from the Union J boys, the capacity crowd were primed for the main act of the evening. Enter Connor, Tristan, James and Brad – The Vamps!
Pyrotechnics at the ready, the four-piece hit the stage to the almighty shrieks and screams of the primarily female crowd. They waste no time flying straight through hits Wild Heart, Hurricane and Somebody To You – with every fan singing every word right back at them. Next up, a four song melody of covers. The lads comfortably give their own take on Uptown Funk, Swifty’s Shake It Off, Seven Nation Army and Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop.
The boys look more than at home on stage and work the crowd well, with songs Last Night and Move My Way and a drum solo all going down swimmingly. Sum 41 and My Chemical Romance are next up for the cover treatment – Teenagers and In Too Deep sounding great amped up on guitar, even if the younger generations were a little confused with the origination of the songs. The closing ensemble of hits topped off with favourites Lovestruck and Oh Cecilia ended the main set, but they aren’t getting away that easily. Screaming adoration brings the guys back for an encore, sending all involved home happy with renditions of Risk It All and Can We Dance.
All three bands have their formula down to a tee, and would be very stupid to tamper with it. The Vamps proved on the night that they are all musically sound, and comfortable playing various instruments. My only qualm was the amount of covers: don’t get me wrong, I love a cover, but the talent on show was as good if not better on their original tracks. With the tricky task of album number two around the corner, One Direction had better keep an eye on their coattails.
words OWEN SCOURFIELD