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There's nothing better than a pick ‘n’ mix sometimes. That sweet selection. The variety. Those red sour berries, pennies half-dipped in hundreds and thousands, foam bananas that taste better than they chew and those always more expensive snakes. The token mini eggs too although chocolate isn't really the one in a pick ‘n’ mix save those white mice that could sometimes be pink. Where am I going? Oh yes, Superfood.
Having first caught the band supporting Wolf Alice last May – who headlined Heaven themselves as recently as last November – time will tell whether the Birmingham four-piece can follow the same upward trajectory as their much-hyped counterparts. But with a jam-packed debut album to play in their second of two headline shows this week, here under the arches seems a decent place to start.
With swirling electric blue and pea green strobe lighting providing the slightly psychedelic visual backdrop, Superfood’s brand is daytime-friendly distraction for the most part. Pleasant on the ear and easily entertaining.
“Forget what you know, forget what you’re told” encourages Dom Ganderton on the opener, 'You Can Believe', which is just one of many tunes the band has nestled in the paper bag. Alongside the Britpop tendencies of Melting, 'It’s Good To See You' – a track “we don’t play much live” (but one they probably should) – and 'Mood Bomb', the 13-song set dances by in a sun-soaked blur of fun.
Before that, in something of a microcosm of current British rock, second on the bill, Yak, are Iggy and the Stooges-meets-Wolfmother fronted by a Mick Jagger-double. The London trio bring a manic, hypnotic energy to the table removed from that Superfood serve up. Latest release, 'Smile', sparkled among other rough diamond cuts and, for a new band making its first waves, the confidence of singer Oli Burslem ensured the half-full crowd remained in the palm of his hand as he crowd surfed along still strumming in theirs.
With grunge-inflected openers, Black Honey, leaning on the old whilst spinning a fresh one for the new at the beginning of the night, it was “Superfood, Superfood” from the Brummie band’s eponymous single that closed the set and sang out loud in high-pitched harmony into the Charing Cross sky.
Something for everyone ultimately, but nothing quite so nutrient-rich to be considered especially beneficial for health and well-being. That said, a little bit of this and a little bit of that never hurt anybody and, whilst Superfood may not quite be a superfood, they are a sweet and tasty pluck from the pick ‘n’ mix all the same.
