Photo: Justine Trickett
The anticipation for London Grammar to emerge is felt throughout the venue in South London. With many a young-professional waiting to be impressed, it is safe to say by the time the trio exit the stage they have delivered a stunning performance that leaves everyone in attendance wanting so much more from a band oozing unrivalled levels of talent.
Despite admitting early nerves, singer Hannah Reid and co set the bar very high with exquisite ‘Hey Now’ opening the show. With very little said early on it takes a marriage proposal from a half naked man to spark the atmosphere in the room. “Oh no there is a man with his shirt off asking me to marry him” exclaims Reid. After politely declining, from there on out after such an impressive start it is startling to think that if anything London Grammar raise the bar even higher, showing how confident they’ve become.
Hannah Reid will rightly take many-a-plaudit for her sensational operatic vocals. Arguably the most talented female vocalist hailing from these shores since Florence Welch, Reid’s vocal range is sublime and in Dan Rothman and Dot Major, London Grammar seem to have concocted the perfect recipe showcased throughout the evening as they draw on songs from their immaculate debut album, If You Wait.
The devastatingly beautiful ‘Wasting My Young Years’ is a real standout moment, introducing the song as the one which “started it all off” it is no surprise London Grammar have experienced the year they have. With EP track ‘Darling Are You Gonna Leave Me’ proving to be another highlight, the most sublime moment of the evening comes in the form of the trio’s cover of Kavinsky’s 'Nightcall’ which was bleak, chilling and powerful in equal measures.
Throughout the set, guitarist Dan Rothman provides the most magical minimalistic guitar lines which give the songs and most importantly Reid’s vocals a chance to breathe. Multi-instrumentalist Dot Major flits between his killer synth-lines, clever loops and lo-fi beats that just keep everything together so perfectly.
This band are just incredible. There are not enough superlatives to describe the evening and as the band’s set comes to an all-too-soon end with the unsurprisingly brilliant 'Metal & Dus't, the more up-tempo song highlights another string to their already impressive bow.
With the overwhelmed crowd clearly wanting more, Reid, Major and Rothman return for an encore. Chris Issak’s ‘Wicked Game’ is given the London Grammar treatment. It’s very difficult to replicate the perfection that comes with this song and it is to no great surprise, the trio not only do the number justice but truly excel in the delivery of an all time classic.
Being this tight and accomplished this early on in their musical career, it is safe to say they are not wasting their young years.
Below: Awesome and exclusive photos of London Grammar live at Brixton Electric
