It’s a Saturday, Wales have unfortunately lost to England in the rugby and it’s raining but that hasn’t stopped most of the ticket holders from queuing down the road ready for Don Broco, a band notorious for their on stage mirth.
On first are excitable young British act Press To Meco. A three piece whose passion for their music gleams through. For an opener the antics they manage to pull off tonight are quite something and definitely enlighten the evening. Their demands don’t go unanswered, they ask for a wall of death and get it, a circle pit, for everyone to clap and woo, and they get it. The crowds response is warm and encouraging. Part of their set sees them hand out an old fashioned ball and cup toy to the front row to see if anyone can bag themselves a free t-shirt – no one does but it’s pleasant to watch the toy flow up and down the barrier. They’re a band that means well – radio friendly rock with a quirky beat that introduces some of the younger crowd into modern rock.
Next up are the Japanese Man With A Mission who march onto the stage donning their unique wolf masks and what they play was not what half the crowd were expecting. Hard rock fused with dance-pop – it feels like a throwback to an earlier era of rock with that hip-hop feel, funky bass-lines and of course, sirens. Although it feels incredibly American influenced, it’s undoubtedly catchy and the grooves keeping the crowd intrigued. It could come off as cliche with the masks and hinder a performance but they’ve mastered their moves before chucking in a questionable remix of Smells Like Teen Spirit towards the end of their set.
The room is feeling pumped for Don Broco tonight. On tour in support of their newly released album Technology at the start of February they get stuck right in kicking the night off with Pretty. With an 80s disco feel to the set as bright pink lights illuminate the start of the set it’s only fitting each member looks like they’ve been dragged from the 80s. Celebrating their latest album in the charts with a plethora of hits from the album in the setlist it’s an all round positive vibe and Rob continues that vibe but constantly talking to the crowd on their level, jumping on the barrier and throwing moves out like an 80s workout video. These days the band float more towards the pop end than hard-rock but they don’t forget their old ways as Rob introduces Thug Workout. “This is the first song we ever wrote”, which calls for daft singing, dancing and push ups all in good fun. And just when you think it’s over the band come out for a second encore and end the night with T-Shirt Song.
The night has been lively and filled with first class moves, flying drinks, chants and an audience supporting a band into bigger territory. A solid Saturday night as the kids would say.
8/10
