Photo Credit: Nikisha Garrett
Words: Abi Jones
Emerging indie rock band Overpass have taken the alternative music world by storm with their raw song writing and equally fresh, gritty sound. Celebrating the release of their latest EP ‘Dependent‘, the Brummie quartet took to stages across the UK this spring and autumn, embracing their talent and captivating audiences with the power of live music. Cardiff was among the lucky final stops of the journey, as the band wrapped up their packed 12-date tour in the Welsh capital. As a venue with a capacity of only 350 people, The Globe is all about “getting you close to the action,” and it’s safe to say that Overpass are the epitome of action.
Up-and-coming bands, Pack of Animals, and The North took to the stage before the headliner and showed Cardiff exactly what they’ve got, setting the lucidly electrifying tone for this evening. Despite being fresh faces on the scene with no released singles yet, Pack of Animals refused to shy away from the spotlight. With a solid set of six songs featuring ‘Ballerina‘ and ‘Novacaine‘, the quintet hailing just across the river from Cardiff demonstrated undeniably striking chemistry and energy that’s well deserving of praise. Following shortly after, The North stepped up and didn’t fail to add to the high spirits of the room, pouring their northern charm into their performance. With only one EP released, they bring a new and refreshing spark yet still blending a familiar sound reminiscent of early 2000s indie rock. Ending their set with ‘Soundtrack Your Soul‘ was truly anthemic and a special anecdote for the crowd to remember.
With The Globe now filled to its capacity, the cool autumn air was soon put to a halt as the lights dimmed and Overpass was raring to go. With the band now perfectly clad in a vibrant teal glow, the opening riff of single, ‘Be Good to Yourself‘ rang smoothly from the lead guitar, through to the speakers. This familiar, beloved melody greeted the crowd in which they replied with roaring cheers. From the very beginning, it was clear that this closing night would be something truly remarkable for both the band and the fans.
As expected, fan favourites like ‘Alright‘ and ‘Right Time‘ proved to be real showstoppers, there’s something so magical about the way they flawlessly mould these songs to fit the atmosphere of the venue. The production of ‘Alright‘ on streaming has more pop influence, but when Overpass played it live, it seems as though they took some inspiration from heavier sounding genres to intensify the song, making their performance more raw and unique. As well as the well-known ones, the band didn’t hesitate to treat the crowd to some unreleased tracks like ‘Union Station‘ and ‘Sandman‘ to tease the future of their evolving sound.
This night candidly highlighted Overpass’s impressive musical range. They proved they can do both dynamic and fiery performances which is typical of a young indie band, while also successfully maintaining depth and emotion during slower, sentimental songs. Straying away from their usual, lively nature, lead vocalist Max Newbold performed a touching solo acoustic version of ballad, ‘From the Night‘. Without prompting, the crowd naturally joined him, creating a tear-jerking moment that rightfully gained an astonishing applause at the end. Newbold wasn’t the only one basking in the shine of the spotlight, all four members showcased the best of their abilities throughout the show. Rock heavy, ‘Take It or Leave It‘ was undoubtedly drummer Jake Bishop’s domain as he played the fills effortlessly with confidence and fire. In the same way, Indie Armstrong’s bass skills were at its peak when playing the pure, classic indie tunes like ‘3AM‘. Elliot Rawlings on lead guitar completes the band with his catchy riffs, most notably during ‘Be Good to Yourself‘ and ‘Slow‘ which are wonderfully guitar-heavy.
The band didn’t let the crowd down once throughout the gig and even tied it all together perfectly for ‘Beautiful‘ as the closing song. Being one of their most successful tracks with over 850,000 streams on Spotify, there’s no surprise that this was the peak of the night with hundreds of voices uniting to sing, “we still need the chance to be beautiful”, leaving the room buzzing with the kind of energy only live music can create.
Overpass continue to wow crowds and prove that they’re “like no other” ordinary indie band, they’re storytellers and characters of passion who just so happen to be musically talented as well.
Photo Credits:
Nikisha Garrett – Oxford, The Bullingdon
Madison Jouvenaar – Exeter, The Cavern
Ella Calver – Norwich, The Waterfront
Esme Brigden – Brighton, Concorde 2
Taped Magazine 