Bastille kept themselves busy in 2013. After the release of their debut album Bad Blood (as well as the success of smash-hit single Pompeii) the band busied themselves with a summer of festivals and a couple of headline tours, as well as a slot supporting Muse at London’s Emirates Stadium. They’ve just finished off their biggest-ever UK headline tour, and if you went down to a show you’ll know exactly why they’re so massive – they’re one of the tightest live acts around, and their anthemic slices of indie-pop are perfectly suited to the live arena.
Kicking off with the emotive one-two of Bad Blood and Weight of Living, Pt. II, the band make sure to get the crowd involved from the start. Charismatic frontman Dan Smith is constantly darting around the stage, to the point where it gets kinda hard to keep up with him. The four-thousand capacity Plymouth Pavilions may seem at first to be a little too cavernous for the intricacies of Bastille’s music to really hit the casual observer, but we’re pleased to report that they filled the space with ease. Placing fan favourite Laura Palmer early in the set was a masterstroke – the high-energy indie that they’re so well known for is rarely exemplified better than in this top-notch track, and it ensured that every member of the capacity crowd was well and truly up for a good time.
The band rattle through a set comprised mainly of tracks from their debut album, and they go down a storm. It’s a hometown gig for Plymouth-born drummer Chris ‘Woody’ Wood, and he’s clearly loving every second – he’s a veritable rhythm machine, and his decision to wear a Plymouth Argyle shirt onstage is one we approve of wholeheartedly.
The fan-friendly sucker-punch of Things We Lost in the Fire and Flaws spark a mass singalong, and the excitement in the room is amplified by frontman Smith venturing into the crowd. We’re not sure we’ve heard screams this deafening since… Well, ever, and it goes to show that Bastille’s popularity amongst teenage girls shows no sign of slowing down.
Closing the show with Of The Night and the incredible Pompeii, Bastille once again proved why they’re one of the most popular live bands in Britain. With huge slots already announced at festivals up and down the country this summer, you can’t be excused from seeing them live – trust us, you won’t regret it.
