Photo: Emma Viola Lilja
In celebration of their unbelievable breakthrough success, Royal Blood, singer bass-guitarist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, perform one of their biggest shows to date.
They deliver tracks from their Mercury Prize-nominated eponymous album to a sold out show at London's iconic Brixton Academy. They’re thudding, sludgy and noisy, but in the best way possible.
The twosome amble on stage with a snarl to the backdrop of Pharoahe Monch’s ‘Simon Says’ and begin with all of their power. It’s well calculated and their unmistakable hulking riffs punch through the set. As frontman Mike croons through ‘You Can Be So Cruel’, his drawling deft vocals and on-stage saunter is reminiscent of Josh Homme; whilst ‘Little Monster’ leaves the crowd baying, they are putty in their hands.A truly great rock record begs to be hollered back relentlessly, and that's exactly what Royal Blood have created.
The duo end with ‘Out Of The Black’, a charged opening to the album but a roaring end to this show. There is no encore but the finale is indulgent, and rightly so. You can tell they love every second and are out to savour every last moment.
Ben stands on the speakers taking it all in whilst Mike thrusts his bass in the air, bringing the show to a hammering finish. It’s debatable as to whether rock needs saving right now, but going by Royal Blood’s company, there is no glimpse of demise here in London. You can see why they had the highest charting rock debut in years, and it doesn’t take a genius to see why they’re successful. They are a wall of sound and a sonic powerhouse.
Royal Blood are definitely arena-ready, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare on the big stage supporting Foo Fighters at Wembley in June.
Royal Blood played:
Hole
Come On Over
You Can Be So Cruel
Figure It Out
You Want Me
Better Strangers
Little Monster
Blood Hands
One Trick Pony
Careless
Ten Tonne Skeleton
Loose Change
Out of the Black
