Not many acts have exploded over the last 18 months as much as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, otherwise known as Self Esteem. Not just any act can be Self Esteem, though, as Taylor proves time and again tonight at the Tramshed on what is essentially a victory lap for her mad last 18 months.
Opening with Prioritise Pleasure followed by Fucking Wizardry, Taylor appears towering above her incredible band before throwing herself into the evening reminding us all that a Self Esteem show is a ridiculously joyful experience. Moody lands perfectly with Taylor quipping “this is a song about me being a moody bitch” before disappearing off stage after delivering some of her powerhouse vocals for the tender Just Kids.
Reappearing in red leather, Taylor treats the room to some excellent new music in the form of Mother with its jungle-ish drums combining perfectly straight into How Can I Help You? in the most possibly best batshit way. Taylor disappears again after Girl Crush while a voiceover introduces the band – including Cardiff’s own magnificent Marged Siôn, who Taylor later describes as “Wales’ finest”. We can’t disagree.
“I’m not just saying this… you’re the absolute crowd of the tour so far,” Taylor says, before a cheeky bit of Welsh is spoken. “I used to hang out in Cardiff a lot in my 20s, so those were vital sentences!” John Elton is an absolute highlight, with just Taylor and her guitar delivering a spellbinding experience for every single person in the room. You Forever is powerful in its delivery, and the reaction in the room is lapping up every single syllable sung, before Taylor jokes “this is our last song… defo…” ahead of the now-iconic I Do This All The Time finishing the main set.
Returning to the stage for the encore, I’m Fine brings yet more unbridled joy with the now customary barking at the end whipping straight into the banger that is The Best. “There was lots of back and forth about upgrading to a bigger venue but I’m so glad we didn’t… dw i’n caru you lot!” Taylor says before ending the show with the tender Still Reigning before dancing off stage to the sounds of Shirley Bassey’s This Is My Life.
Tonight’s show has truly been one for the ages: Rebecca Taylor is an artist living their best life right now going from creative strength to strength and dragging each and every one of us along for the ride. For that, we are grateful because she’s flipping brilliant.
Self Esteem, Tramshed, Cardiff, Thurs 9 Mar
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS photos EMMA LEWIS
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