Photo Credit: Graham Ransom
Words: Sophie Eley
Reunited and reignited, RAZORLIGHT returned to the O2 Institute in Birmingham on their ‘Planet Nowhere‘ tour, with a set that felt both like a homecoming and a bold new chapter. Performing a mixture of fresh material from their latest album, to their classic indie anthems which made them a household name, RAZORLIGHT proved why they are still powerhouses in the indie rock scene.
Manchester based band FLORENTENES opened the night with a raw and unapologetic performance. Immediately capturing the crowd’s attention with their opening song ‘The Gun’, it was clear the band were set to deliver a high energy set from start to finish. The youthful four piece soon proved why they are making a name for themselves in the music scene, with lead singer William Smith’s insane unique vocals leading the rest of the band’s undeniable chemistry. Slowing down their performance with ‘Glue’ ultimately did not last long as it quickly transformed into another high energy performance which was well received.
With the room at capacity, SEB LOWE and his band graced the stage as the second slot of the night, with nothing short of a memorable set. The Oldham born singer began his set with ‘Here Comes the Aliens!’, winning the crowd over with his relevant lyricism and strong band beside him. Seb’s passion is reflected in his trailblazing performance, continuously inciting a loud reception from the crowd through his set. The political edge notable in tracks like ‘A Westerner Walks Into A Bar’ and ‘Terms and Conditions’ drives depth into his sound, solidifying his valued artistic expression and positioning him as a well versed musician.
As the lights dimmed once again, the atmosphere was palatable as the crowd anticipated RAZORLIGHTs return to the stage. Diving headfirst into ‘Rip it Up’ from their first album, Johnny Borrell refuelled the energy on the stage with his striking vocals and magnetic stage presence. Seamlessly launching into ‘In the Morning’, as its familiar opening was met with a wave of cheers that confirmed the band are still as sharp as ever.
The Birmingham crowd’s energy did not waver as Borell states “Welcome to Planet Nowhere” after performing songs off of their newest album ‘Zombie Love’ and ‘Taylor Swift = US Propaganda’. These punk infused tunes solidified the direction of the album and demonstrated how even after twenty years in the game, the band are still experimenting and reaching new dimensions. It is clear that the band haven’t lost their ‘Golden Touch’ as fans continue to sing along to every word, including their new tunes ‘Scared of Nothing’ and ‘April Ends’.
‘Somewhere Else’ delivered a final burst of intensity before the encore, with the crowd hanging onto every note. The band took a little break before re-entering the stage for their encore and to thank the crowd for being there. RAZORLIGHT performed three more songs to close out the evening including unreleased tune ‘Sugar High’, showing how RAZORLIGHT are still expanding. The final tune ‘America’ served as the grand finale, with evidence that it was an emotional moment for both the crowd and Borrell.
Taped Magazine 