Caravan Palace - Live Music Review in Bristol
Posted on: 2015-12-14
Our rating:
The buzzing crowd at the 02 was populated with plenty of fans, including several dressed in 1920?s dresses and suits, ready for a night of exuberance and new tracks from the forthcoming album <|°_°|> - affectionately known as Robot.
Tickets to Caravan Palace at the Bristol 02 Academy on Thursday sold out several months ago and with a band as magnetic as the Parisian electro-swingers it’s easy to understand why.
Caravan Palace have been a popular name on the festival circuit for several years, ever since the release of their debut album back in 2009 and then seeing that popularity become even more widespread following the 2012 follow-up Clash.
Combining elements of classical swing and jazz with a more funky contemporary electro beat that just lends itself to dancing, vocalist and energetic frontwoman Zoé Colotis seamlessly moves between sultry French and upbeat English hip hop, often whilst swing dancing across the stage either solo or with one of her bandmates.
These ingredients on their own don’t do enough to convey the sheer fun of a Caravan Palace gig, a band that was first formed to provide the soundtrack to an adult film. The cheekily insouciant atmosphere that arrives from the moment they step on stage and lasts until the final encore is something that involves a certain je ne sais quoi and thoroughly enjoyable to see in person.
The buzzing crowd at the 02 was populated with plenty of fans, including several dressed up in 1920’s dresses and suits, all ready for a night of exuberance and new tracks from the forthcoming album <|°_°|> - affectionately known as Robot - as well as older favourites from 2012’s Panic and their self titled debut.
Missing from the line-up was bassist Charles Delaport, whose absence prompted singer Zoe to get the crowd shouting out their love and best wishes for him alongside fervent hopes for a speedy return.
Messages to absent friends sent, it was time for Caravan Palace to do what they do best and get everyone jumping, dancing, singing and living the music like they were hearing sounds for the first time. Their ability to make they walls shake with pounding dance tracks one minute and then bring the tempo right down to that of the most intimate club lounge is a true masterclass in entertaining as a group, with the occasional punctuation of a sublime virtuoso performance on clarinet or violin.
New tracks from Robot such as Lone Digger sat comfortably alongside more established favourites such as Clash and Jolie Coquine, and by the end the packed 02 had been treated to an intoxicating evening of pure showmanship, leaving just one more thumping encore to leave us lindyhopping all the way home.
4.5/5
Reviewed by Richard Purdon for 365Bristol.com - The leading events and entertainment website for Bristol
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
