“When we first played in Wales, it was in TJ’s in Newport to four people…”, You Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi reminisces, while looking out in awe to a live arena in Cardiff packed to the rafters. Returning with a merch stand full of their newly released eighth album Truth Decay – complete with Welsh CD sleeves – this time around the pop-rock heavyweights were in the mood to celebrate a new era.
Joined on the road by Bears In Trees, Waterparks and The Maine, the night began with an air of nostalgia for the early days of pop-punk, a treat for fans who have been regulars at shows since the early 00s – some of whom may even have been present at that night in TJ’s – or the later graduation to Newport Centre.
But by the end of the show in Cardiff, it became clear how much You Me At Six have grown with their fanbase and matured as a band over the past decade or so. We still had the angsty themes of betrayal and perils of young love that we know and love from second album Hold Me Down, but singles from Truth Decay have advanced to more serious lyricism covering toxic masculinity and mental health. With a beat you can dance to.
From the pit-rousing Bite My Tongue, to dabbling with electronics in What’s It Like, the catchy pop chorus of God Bless The ‘90s Kids to the more tender acoustic version of No One Does It Better – all in all, an impressive setlist that showed this is a band who love to evolve. Packaged with Franceschi’s infectious live energy, You Me At Six had Cardiff dancing all the way to curfew.
You Me At Six, Bears In Trees, Waterparks + The Maine, Cardiff International Arena, Fri 10 Feb
words ANNIE BISHOP photos HANNAH NICOLSON-TOTTLE
Want more music?
The latest reviews, interviews, features and more, from Wales and beyond.