Photo Credit: Esme Brigden
Having secured the #2 spot in the Official Album Charts with their debut album ‘Put A Smile On for Me’, London based quartet Keo were in Nottingham for two special intimate performances. The afternoon slot say the band unveil a stripped back show, where as the lucky lot during the 8pm show got to witness Keo in their true form, pure electric and full band.
With no support required to warm-up the crowd, the capacity Nottingham bunch were eagerly awaiting the band’s presence. As The Stone Roses’ guitar-driven ‘Love Spreads’ blasted through the PA, Keo emerged from the wings with a huge roar that shook the walls of The Level. Opening the 45 minute set with ‘Be Happy’, the energy in the room quickly rose up. Quickly throwing out song after song, ‘Pistol’, ‘Best I Can Do’ and ‘Thorn’ kept up the momentum as the quartet unleashed one of their most thrilling displays to date. Jimmy Lanwern’s swinging of his guitar while frontman Finn Keogh’s back and forth between the mic and edge of the stage kept watchers enthralled, just in time for fan favourite ‘That’s Me’.
Die hard Keo fans have been picking up on the track since their early days, but since its release into the world, the song has shifted into a whole new light. Easily the loudest the crowd has sung all night, Keo clearly thrives upon energetic audiences. The leaping from the bunch in the middle all the way to those around the sides and back who were raising their hands high, collectively all belting out the words in a choir-like manner. Continuing with tracks from their debut full-length, Keo rounded off with ‘Blue Song’ and ‘Black Dress’ before a quick return to conclude the night with a two-track encore.
With little time remaining, Keo got the ball rolling once again, as ‘Kind, If You Will’ kicking things off before their debut single ‘I Lied, Amber’ saw a sea of phone torches and screens filling the entire room up. Keogh requested those to drop the phones for the final track and to enjoy the moment. The crowd followed Finn’s orders and allowed the song to restart. Less than an hour of a set but the sweat pouring from everyone in the pit clearly showed that no matter how many songs were performed on the night, or even how new some of the material is, Keo have a fanbase that are willing to throw the kitchen sink at every opportunity.
