It’s an important night for Tigercub, after six years of relentless touring and bloody hard work, the band pack out Concorde 2 in their biggest hometown show yet. Emerging triumphant with debut album ‘Abstract Figures In The Dark’ and 2017’s ‘Evolve Or Die’, the band have explored new realms of sound, setting them apart from their peers and delving into uncharted territory.
Last minute addition, Calva Louise, open the evening much to our delight. We’ve been meaning to catch the three-piece live since hearing the insanely infectious ‘Getting Closer‘. The grunge pop trio turn in a solid performance, confirming their recent wave of buzz is rightly deserved.
Next are Sick Joy, who prove to be a real highlight. Their sound is fresh and contemporary, yet the anthemic ‘Stars‘ is bursting full of 90s nostalgia, echoing a fine mix of Pixies and Nirvana.
It was always going to be a tough gig following such bright support acts, and this turned out to be the case. While Glum’s grunge rock’n’roll vibes were in keeping with the night, it didn’t really do much for us.
“We’re home baby, home” announces Tigercub frontman Jamie Hall, as the rest of the band walk on stage and immediately launch into the thunderous ‘Nausea’. The sinister riff to ‘Antiseptic’ follows and a huge mosh explodes deep into the middle of the venue. The crowd are clearly up for it tonight; this hardworking band have earned their stature, and the adoring crowd are here to celebrate it.
‘Destroy’ elevates the room as a swell of bodies sways back and forth to its possessive hook. The haunting ‘Abstract Figures In The Dark’ hypnotises the audience before smacking them in the face with its seismic riffs.
Halfway through the set the poetically bleak ‘Burning Effigies’ transcends the energy of the room. This is followed by drummer James Alix’s huge beat at the beginning of ‘Omen’.
It’s at this point we’re blown away by the enormity of the sounds created by this three-piece. Jimi Wheelwright’s bass tone and James Alix’s drums are absolutely massive this evening, huge credit to the soundman too, it’s the best we’ve heard out of the venue’s PA in quite some time.
The industrial sounding ‘Divided States Of Us’ from ‘Evolve Or Die’, is utterly refreshing. And the singalong moment of the set comes with ‘Black Tides’, as the audience claps along in unison too. This is continued in ‘It’s Only Love’, one of the band’s strongest singles to date.
Penultimate song ‘Pictures Of You’ crescendos into the triumphant sounding ‘Control‘, ending a monumental set on a blissful high. Tonight will be one to remember for years to come, but it does feel like this is only the beginning…
Concorde 2, Friday 19th January 2018
Words by Jack Fletcher
Photos by Ashley Laurence
