THOSE DAMN CROWES PERFORMING AT BOURNEMOUTH’S FIRE STATION

★★★★☆ (4/5)

THOSE DAMN CROWES PERFORMING AT BOURNEMOUTH’S FIRE STATION
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI

Back in the summer I ran to the OVO Wembley to watch Those Damn Crows open up for ZZ Top, missing half of their set and wishing I had watched more. Now, almost a year later, the five-piece from South Wales took the stage of one of the most intimate venues – The Old Fire Station in Bournemouth – delivering a buzzing performance. Despite the much smaller scale of the venue, it is very well known for its excellent acoustics and warm crowd, providing the perfect backdrop for the evening’s rock festivities.

Those Damn Crows are doing their own headline tour this spring, supported by James Bruner hailing from the other side of the pond. With soulful melodies, a very groovy band on stage and heartfelt lyrics, his set felt like watching a rockstar in the making. The tone of the set was soft and engaging, with genuine interaction between the crowd, soulful lyrics and a great performance. His setlist consisted of songs such as ‘Endless’, ‘Alibi’ and alongside some newer material such as ‘Redlight’. I have to admit, it was a great opener act to set the tone for the night and it felt much more satisfying to watch it up close.

Following Bruner’s set, Those Damn Crows exploded onto the stage with their signature energy. One thing that is straight obvious from the first note is that the band delivers no matter the size of the venue. Whether it is in front of tens of thousands or in a much more cosy set-up, they immediately have the crowd on their feet with their dynamic presence and powerful melodies. The band’s tight instrumentation is complemented by the vocal prowess of their singer – and the subtle flirty charm he had as he engaged with the front row.

The setlist features a mix of fan favourites – old and new – including ‘Let’s Go Psycho’, ‘Man On Fire’, ‘Kingdom of Dust’, ‘No Surrender’ and ‘Blink of an Eye’. Each song was delivered with a lot of passion and playfulness on stage, showcasing the band’s growth and cohesion. The audience was not shy at all, singing along to the most famous songs and jumping around when the energy commanded it. The band also performed music from their newest album which is set to release next month, with ‘Glass Heart’ and ‘Dreaming’ mellowing out the middle of the set. Going back to the super energetic songs, the band jumped on ‘Sin on Skin’ and ‘Go Get It’, ending the set with ‘See you again’ and ‘Rock n Roll’.

I have to admit, the venue atmosphere and ambience really contributed to the night’s success. Whilst watching a band grow and play large venues and festivals is always pleasant, an intimate venue with excellent sound quality and closeness between the band and the crowd felt a much better setting to watch Those Damn Crows, treating everyone to a super closeup experience that is very hard to get in large arenas. The venue’s history and character added to the overall charm of the show, making it a very memorable night for everyone who was there.