Warpaint at O2 Academy Bristol
Posted on: 2014-02-22
Our rating:
Psychedelic indie group Warpaint have their sound down to a T.
Friday night saw psychedelic indie group, Warpaint, colour the O2 Academy in their rich and beautiful sound. Supported on this tour by laid-back, eclectic trio All We Are, the night was certainly one to remember.
The only word that could ever sum up this gig, and indeed the band itself, is 'atmospheric'. The all-female band took to the stage amidst a sea of smoke and strobes, owning the stage from the start. There was no messing about, no fiddling with buttons, no peripheral chit-chat; just a smooth launch into their first song.
Here is a live band that sounds intense and flawless at all times. The group were continually tight and clearly had a shared love and passion for their art, shown by sly smiles and the occasional case of spontaneous spaced-out dancing. There was no reduction in quality, despite bassist Jen being unable to sing due to illness. The other girls filled in quite effectively and the crowd seemed to fall into a swaying trance at times, which could only have been a good sign.
Although it could be argued that the band are still fairly up-and-coming, they already have access to a solid base of tunes that can be relied upon to create an atmosphere of excitement among the fans. Sometimes from the very first note the crowd would erupt, singing along and dancing to the beat. It would be fair to say that Bristol welcomed the young Americans with open arms, and duly received an electrifying performance. The music pulsed through the room with each song as catchy and musically advanced as the next, and the band seemed to genuinely lose themselves in the groove.
Midway through we were treated to a new song, which left everyone positively giddy at the prospect of new material, although the stubborn crowd got their fill of the older tunes during the set. Undertow, Billie Holiday, and Love Is To Die (from their most recent album) were all included, reliably prompting at least half the audience to sing along. The soft and ethereal voices, steady beats and swirling guitars of Warpaint are a phenomenon that cannot be explained with mere words. The urge to dance was as overwhelming as the strobes were blinding. Relaxing and invigorating at the same time, these girls have got their sound down to a T.
Reviewed by Miri Texieira for 365Bristol - 4/5
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.
