Amber Run live at The Bodega - Photo by Penny Blakemore
A sold-out show at the Bodega was always going to be a cosy affair, especially with four different acts lined-up to fill the evening with their striking personalities and extraordinary music. This was Communion's New Faces tour, a remarkable endeavour set out to raise the profile of fledgling artists and get them heard across the UK.
The night was already warm when Oxford band Pixel Fix took to the stage. This was their 35th gig in about 50 days but they showed no signs of slowing down as they filled the night with their indie pop sounds. A young girl fainted during the set – causing the band to stop their dreamy electronic music and look after her – but not everyone needed to be swept of their feet to enjoy their hypnotic sound.
Kimberly Anne was next up, sharing her acoustic pop with the welcoming crowd. She appeared confident and relaxed, if a little clumsy, and her upbeat personality ensured she made a few friends this evening. One of her best songs, La La, requires audience participation to make it truly remarkable and the Nottingham crowd were more than happy to help out.
Soon we had Fyfe, a singer-songwriter from Manchester whose dreamy voice complements his electronic instruments well. He swayed through the set with ease and the audience were hooked on music that seemed more poignant than the rest.
Then we had Amber Run, who were welcomed to the stage like heroes as the crowd shouted their appreciation to the band that formed in this very city. Starting with I Found, the room was silenced and the focus was on every note, every word of the magnificent song.
Amber Run live at The Bodega - Photo by Penny Blakemore
Joe Keogh, lead singer, was not immune to the emotions of the evening; he addressed the crowd with: “Before I get bleary eyed... oh, fuck it, it's a rock show.” He summoned his strength and carried on with the songs that brought everyone here on this night.
Spark received the biggest cheer of the evening, as most could relate to its story of small beginnings and working hard for success. Before the audience could recover, Amber Run went straight into Noah, another big hit from the boys' beginnings. The passion in these songs were infectious; the whole room was set alight with powerful music that filled the air. This wasn't a gig for the faint-hearted.
Before we knew it the show was over, but Amber Run were not going to get away so easily. The cheers for encore were deafening and the band quickly returned to the stage to give the crowd what they wanted. It was a new experience for Amber Run, who reacted with unbound enthusiasm: “I fucking love tour... I'm so unused to this encore shit.”
One song wasn't enough, as the crowd just kept going. Joe was left bemused: “Do you want one more? It's a Sunday night! You're all crazy!” Little Ghost became the final song of the night, bringing Amber Run full circle as they played one of the first songs they ever released as a band.
The night was a triumph, bringing the city together to see a variety of music and the efforts of a band so close to home. I guarantee Nottingham won't forget about this one for a while.
Pixel Fix, Kimberly Anne, Fyfe and Amber Run played at Bodega on Sunday 9 November 2014.
The Communion "New Faces" Tour featuring Amber Run, Kimberly Anne, Pixel Fix and Fyfe wrapped up Monday 10 November in Leeds after 7 shows around the Country. For more information on Communion Music and future shows, check out The Communion Music website.
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