I was happy to have a ticket become available for this gig, sold out as evidenced by the kids (some chaperoned by their parents) lined around the block at 8pm doors. Lucy Blue made the early arrival worthwhile as the Irish songstress played her piano keyboard, and only minor pre-recorded accompaniment otherwise. Mostly literal songs, like the one about The Postman hoping for love in a Valentine's Day sack of mail. She was engaging, had a nice voice, and was very complimentary thereby winning us over and enjoying a mostly quiet room for her mostly quiet songs.
Before the Bears arrived to the neon stage trees, there was a palpable energy in the room which I suppose is what happens with teenage excitement. The side door opened, offering a glimpse of one of the members, thus eliciting a squeal from three fans stood on the side bench. The TikTok generation had their phones aloft as the foursome appeared on stage with plenty of pizzazz and smiles. The crowd roared throughout and it was genuinely deserved as they laid down a sizeable chunk of their catalogue across an hour an a bit, including the encore. Existing personal favourite, I'm Doing Push Ups, hit well especially after the heartfelt introduction from my preferred member, the curly haired guitarist who smiled and sang along for the entire show (although rarely into the mic). That said, new-to-me songs such as Good Rhymes for Bad Times were also fun to see live. The made-up bassist was de facto ringleader although the uke and keyboard player was happy to be his right hand man for the silly, pre-rehearsed banter before Sun Machine or the piano tinkling dance for Keep It Easy (an above average live tune). The crowd ate this up, belting along on choruses such as Cut Corners on Short Walks, and they delivered on their emo, twee, indie pop playing so I was content to go along for the ride, such as on the buoyant Heaven Sent is a Coffee Cup. Even when they slowed it down for Little Cellist it continued to be entertaining.
As expected, a solid "one more tune" chant echoed through Tut's until they returned and actually played two, the first reaching Great Heights. All in all it was an upbeat gig, affirming their rightful place as the continuation of the twee core genre passed on by their Welsh brethren, Los Campesinos!
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