Jess Glynne has come a long way since featuring on the massive Clean Bandit hits 'Rather Be' and 'Real Love'. In just over 2 years she’s become a musical tour-de-force in her own right, and it’s with a confidence borne of this knowledge, combined with her legions of pop-adoring fans crammed into the Brixton Academy like beans in a can, that she takes to the stage.
Although the gig is still pretty low-key, the manner in which Glynne performs seems to have evolved. There’s a quiet self-assuredness in the way she addresses the audience and grooves along with her band and backing singers. Her signature vocals – particularly that insane machine-gun vibrato – are seriously on point. Pretty much note perfect, actually – which is impressive considering how technically difficult some of her melodies are.
Although Glynne’s album tracks are fun and kind of awesome when heard live; 'It Ain’t Right' and 'You Can Find Me' being examples of this, it's clear the crowd are waiting for the chart-toppers. As soon as the opening notes to her Clean Bandit hits or 'Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself' ring out, everyone pretty much goes bat-shit crazy.
Having said that, as much as we love her dancey tunes, it's nice to have a change of pace every so often – and these come in the form of her gorgeous single 'Take Me Home' and a really sweet version of Amy Winehouse’s 'Tears Dry On Their Own'.
Ending triumphantly on an absolutely blistering rendition of 'Hold My Hand', Jess Glynne officially cements her place in the hearts – and ear canals – of the whole Academy. So if tonight’s gig was anything to go by, she certainly won’t be leaving either for a long time yet.
