LITTLE SIMZ // SWG3, GLASGOW
The spectacular Little Simz builds on her fantastic year with an incendiary live performance
★★★★★ (5/5)
On the back of a stellar year for British rapper Little Simz, continues the UK leg of her tour with an astounding sold out Glasgow show.
Firstly though, punters gathered early for the support act April + Vista who kept the crowd engaged and entertained with their evocative yet soulful R’n’B.
As the room swelled to capacity, you could sense the anticipation building. Soon, Little Simz struts on the stage brandishing a mega phone which she uses to spit out the bars of Boss, a braggadocious ode to being in charge. Fitting given Little Simz’s current career ascension and she delivers the song with appropriate poise.
Ditching the mega-phone for the more personal Therapy, we can hear the talented rapper at full throttle. Her raps seem to alternate from flowing with a fierce intensity, to when required a more controlled slow burn stressing her confidence and verve but also allowing her to perfectly convey serious moments of vulnerability.
A song from her debut full length A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, God Bless Mary a tribute to kind neighbor goes down well. This is followed by the bleak and touching Wounds which mediates on street crime and personal loss.
Her band consists of a drummer, a keyboard player and a multi-instrumentalist. They add a fullness to the sound illustrating the propulsive basslines featured throughout Grey Area (her deservedly acclaimed recent album). While also ensuring the dub elements on the dance-hall backbeat of 101 FM and the touching piano moments of Moments to shine through.
As Little Simz conducts the crowd like a seasoned veteran. The audience move as one, arms aloft for bangers like Venom or waving back and forth for the slower Pressure. Both from Grey Area, from which every song is aired tonight. Venom, is again a fantastic demonstration of her awe-inspiring flow over a gentle back beat Little Simz raps with violent ferocity.
After a medley of older songs from Stillness In Wonderland, Sherbet Sunset which really highlights the poetry on display in her rapping as she conveys complicated emotions involving a break up in a relatable and powerful way. The gig is finished with a run through of more Grey Area favourites Selfish, 101 FM and then Flowers (again depicting her unique and human way of portraying emotion as she pays tribute to musicians that have inspired her but since passed away). This spectacular run of songs generates a lot of momentum and the crowd are baying for more. Little Simz obliges with a run through of Offence, before leaving the stage to rapturous applause.
A fitting show given Grey Area is one of the best albums released this year, this was also one of the best live performances of the year.
SETLIST: | LITTLE SIMZ : SWG3, GLASGOW - 24.10.2019
Boss
Therapy
God Bless Mary
Wounds
Pressure
Backseat
Good For What
Venom
Her
Morning / One in Rotation / Bad to the Bone
Sherbet Sunset
Selfish
101 FM
Flowers
ENCORE:
Offence