It’s the last date of The Joy Formidable’s UK tour, and there’s a sense of wistful excitement in the air at Rescue Rooms...
The audience filters into the venue from a damp and already dark Sunday night, the days are much shorter now and autumn has set in: quite different from the Friday in March when this gig should have happened.
The venue still feels a bit thin on the ground when support act The People Versus strike up, but the band proceed to perform an impressive feat of winning over an audience, somehow drawing people in to fill the floor quite nicely by the end.
They’re a really interesting act – a six-piece complete with cello (the mark of a band that really means business) - their sound soaring between psyched-out, melodic, alt-rock and American transfused euphoria. Alice Edwards is the kind of lead singer who owns the stage from a standing position, leading proceedings with wry, sassy but self-deprecating comments, floaty, committed vocals, and lots of wavy hand movements. That kind of charisma can’t be underestimated, and, importantly, the whole band obviously have a lot of fun, too.
Ocean Family, about halfway through the set, was one of my highlights, with swirling vocals, jangly guitar motifs and tricksy beats. There were funk undertones and lots of offbeat hits keeping things spicy. Driftwood used harmonies to great effect, bringing that US-roots feel and Witch carried the energy towards the end of the set.
This was one of those supports I was definitely glad to catch; they certainly did enough to make me want to look them up when I got home, and I’d really like to see them play a headline set sometime.
What struck me about TJF when they arrived on set was the contrast between their numbers - just three figures on a relatively broad stage - and the power they brought and sustained. This was founded on very strong drumming from Matthew James Thomas, who was positioned to one side (rather than the rear) of the stage. This allowed him to share plenty of inspiring, thrill-infused glances with his band members and the audience.
Having started bang on time with Caught on a Breeze, the band barely paused for breath for the next two songs of the set (Sevier and Ostrich), but then took time out for quite a lengthy chat with the audience - the first of several. These interludes - which ranged from the plight of independent music venues, to doner kebabs and sheds - brought a sense of intimacy, which is not something that a lot of bands attempt, or could pull off, in this venue. Theirs is a loyal fanbase, and Rhiannon in particular took advantage of that with a very direct and engaging style. The band are obviously very relaxed with each other, having been together so long, meaning plenty of gentle ribbing and banter passes between them; and, when they’re playing, an easy stage chemistry which allows the three to work at their best.
TJF have an extensive discography, and they made the most of that, performing for about ninety minutes including a two-song encore. The setlist flitted between albums, with plenty of favourites and some slightly more obscure tracks, too.
Although the set was centred around the raspy, whirring electric power that TJF are probably most known for, there were moments of tenderness revealed, too, such as in The Greatest Light Is the Greatest Shade, I Don’t Want to See You Like This (Rhydian on acoustic guitar, and the drum stool temporarily vacated) and recent release Share My Heat, a song which evokes the imagery of the title very effectively, and is all about love and connection.
And several of the songs gave all the members the chance to show off their skills and really let loose, most notably Whirring and Cradle (apparently the first song written together as a band). Welsh language song Y Garreg Ateb - the answering stone - was strangely moving, something about the language bringing through another element of the music.
Theirs was a strong, convincing performance (although I doubt much of the audience needed convincing): loud but well-balanced; powerful but not afraid to be subtle when needed; solid and reliable. TJF clearly enjoy being in Nottingham, and I could tell they will always be welcome here.
The Joy Formidable performed at Rescue Rooms on 1 October 2023.
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