The Amazons put on a heart-warming and wholesome show at Rough Trade, showcasing their love for the city and some fantastic acoustic indie rock...
It was clear from the first chord that The Amazons were at home in Nottingham. Following their free gig in the Bodega earlier that evening, the band were clearly warmed up and really in the swing of playing live.
Following a strong opening performance of How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me, vocalist Matt was keen to drum up support for the album’s first week in the charts. The crowd were appreciative, excited at the prospect of seeing a band paving a way for themselves, and this reflected well as the group played their bigger hits.
The album sounded great, even with the more laid-back acoustic style, with humming mandolins and a more relaxed yet still thumping drumbeat. All the new music was well-written and sounded particularly poignant, mirroring themes of desperation and anxiety that went down a treat.
All the new music was well-written and sounded particularly poignant
The band’s classic Black Magic was also spectacular, showcasing the whole group’s musical talent with a handpicked chord progression that felt incredibly well rehearsed and written, just like the new album How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me.
Rough Trade was the perfect venue for this gig, with the tickets including a copy of the physical album. This allowed concertgoers to contribute to The Amazons’ chart placement, an important deadline for the band.
“This is our first top five album, and it’s all down to you!” Matt laughed; his appreciation clear from the sheer number of times the band thanked their audience. It was endearing and entertaining to be involved in what felt like such a big moment for the band, and the great music helped the evening feel particularly memorable.
It was endearing and entertaining to be involved in what felt like such a big moment for the band
Another bonus of gigs at Rough Trade is the opportunity to meet the band after the gig. The band were exactly as friendly and appreciative over the signing table as they were on stage, a real treat that made the connection between the art and the artist feel even more real.
I feel that The Amazons’ new album is very easy to recommend. The anthems soar and sweep exactly the same way in person as on the album. The band clearly love the city dearly, coming back to perform at Rock City on 9th October, and I expect their set will be exceptional, combining all the charm they showcased at Rough Trade with the rock guitars and attitude to fill Rock City.
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