aaamusic | On 25, May 2016

Wednesday 18th May, Norwich

Last time I saw Welsh trio The Joy Formidable, I thought they were on the verge of something huge and would soon be doing the stadium rock arena thing. How refreshing it is, then, that they are embarking on a UK (then US) tour of small club venues across the land, and it was their choice to fulfil this to keep “close and intimate” with their fans and do it just for the music.

At Norwich’s OPEN Club Room, a modest crowd was present to see new grunge band Demob Happy, who played a really good tight set wearing their influences on their sleeves throughout, namely Nirvana! They were fun to watch with flailing hair all over the place and the singer playing his bass high up on his chest. They were clearly having fun!

By the time The Joy Formidable come on stage the club is pretty much packed to the rafters as they launch into the epic ‘The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade’ from their debut EP A Balloon Called Moaning. The energy of the band shines through as Ritzy Bryan (singer/guitarist) connects with the crowd, with her opened eyed stare and energetic movement across the stage, as Rhydian Dafydd (bass/synth) swaggers all the over the place with verve and assertiveness. Matt Thomas on drums gives it his all, and his kit located at the front side of the stage allows him to have as much fun and connection with the crowd as the other two. It is powerful stuff as the band thunder through their set with classic alternative rock numbers like ‘Wolf’s Law’ and ‘Maw Maw Song’.

The new songs from Hitch are especially good and one of the highlights is the wonderful ‘The Last Thing on my Mind’ – ‘The Leopard and the Lung’ was also epic. They also play a really early song called ‘Ostrich’, again from their debut EP

The band did quieten things somewhat and played an acoustic version of ‘The Brook’ in the middle of the crowd and you could hear a pin drop. This moment was very special and they wouldn’t have got away with it in a bigger venue (hence the small venue tour). Of course, back on stage they wigged it out on the final song of the encore with the classic ‘Whirring’… and very energetic it was too. Ritzy and Rhydian ramming the drum kit with their guitars and ending with Ritzy throwing her guitar up to the ceiling and breaking a fire sprinkler!

Norwich is a special place for the band and I hope it is not so long before they return for another wonderful assault on our ears.

Nigel Nudds