Music / Reviews
Review: Pip Blom, Bristol Beacon – ‘Constant energy’
I arrived at a Bristol Beacon bustling with life and live music already in full swing. With the Slapstick Festival about to begin in the main hall we were treated to a performance by the main entrance as people come in and line the stairs to watch.
I’m here to watch Dutch indie popsters Pip Blom in the Lantern. This was first time returning to the Beacon’s smaller hall and the place in unrecognisable since my last visit.
It’s pristine and a great smaller space for artists to perform.
is needed now More than ever
Support tonight came from Getdown Services who I think were a last-minute replacement for Personal Trainer. Well 50% of Getdown Services as one half of the duo couldn’t make it!
So, this was a solo show and my first experience of their music. They are basically up for laugh while delivering songs about things they hate – i.e. greedy landlords and Tories and things they love i.e. crisps and Jamie Oliver.
Josh, the Bristolian half of the band sets his laptop to play funky, synth pop as he talks about Cabot Circus and not sounding like Yard Act at all.
It’s not long before Josh whips his top after popular demand from the crowd and performs one of the slowest knee slides ever seen by me. He performs music to shake your ass to and shout.
With everyone around was either doing one or the other or both! Everyone had a great time.
With the place now packed and officially sold-out Pip Blom take to the stage full of smiles and look ready to go. The set opens with Is This Love? which was recorded as collaboration with Alex Kapranos from indie legends Franz Ferdinand.
Guitarist Tender Blom takes over the vocals and kills it. Red was up next and is so funky the crowd are now dancing a singing in unison.
The band played songs from all three of their albums. Keep It Together is breezy indie summer pop with Pip’s vocals upbeat and in perfect harmony with guitarist Tender Blom, who also finds it hilarious when his guitar strap breaks and is forced make do play in a very unnatural position.
It’s always great to see when a band is blown away by the response from a crowd and this was one of those nights. Kiss by Candlelight is dedicated to Personal Trainer in their absence and continues the highly danceable electro pop theme as the crowd lap it up.
The crowd are full of song requests but they were made to wait patiently as the band returned for encore of songs “to make you dance” as they gave the people what they want with Babies Are a Lie.
Tiger is class and shows off how much great music there is on their latest album Bobbie, the album is full of singles and Tiger especially is one that goes down best live and loud.
The set closes with Get Back and the band appear like they could play all night with their constant energy mirrored right back at them by the crowd. Lots of fun had by all.
Main photo: Matt Barnes
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