Yard Act took Clwb Ifor Bach by full force on their Cardiff debut, a long-sold-out top floor gig that roused the entire audience. This Leeds postpunk band are well on the way to making a huge name for themselves, with a stage presence that made for the most memorable gig I have seen so far this year.
Preceding the headliners were Baba Ali, a band named after their London-based New Yorker vocalist. Like Yard Act in Wales for the first time, Baba Ali’s performance was mesmerising in its own right – a refreshing spin on what one might call indie, yet it’s clear their style is unbound by genre and forged by a multitude of influences, yet always involving a danceable twist. One to watch for sure, both in performance and in general, with an unpredictability indicating an interesting future.
Yard Act’s set could make a curious observer a huge fan in the course of its length – as happened to this reviewer. Lead singer James Smith is engaging and charming from the get-go, his stage presence exemplified by his frequent interactions with the audience, creating an entirely immersive event. By the end of the evening, everyone in the room was involved in some manner, whether dancing, singing the lyrics to Rich, sharing a beer with the band, or chatting to them about a recent gig in Bristol.
With their vocalist’s stage presence and movements embodying the postpunk aesthetic, his Yard Act bandmates – guitarist Sam Shjipstone, bassist Ryan Needham and drummer Jay Russell – ran through singles and album cuts from recent debut album The Overload: 100% Endurance, Fixer Upper, set closer The Trappers Pelts and the bonus treat of a currently unreleased jam.
Yard Act’s punchy lyrics, delivery and charisma have, in barely more than two years active, earned them an enthusiastic and devoted audience. They still give the impression of enjoying being here as much as that audience, and Clwb Ifor Bach has already booked them to return to Cardiff in November – this time in the significantly larger Tramshed. This, I can’t wait to see.
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Tue 22 Feb
words CHLOE BLISSETT photos ANTHONY CONWAY
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