RØRY PERFORMING AT SOLD-OUT LONDON HEADLINE SHOW AT O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN!

★★★★☆ (4/5)

RØRY PERFORMING AT LONDON’S O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI

Not too long ago, Røry graced a cover story by Kerrang! magazine, bringing a wave before her UK tour. Supported by Campbell King (London special), Lake Malice and As December Falls, the rockstar phenomenon had people waiting in line to see her since 1pm.

Ten minutes after doors, Campbell King came on stage. It is difficult to describe the spectrum of music they play, mixed with poetic reading and alternative guitars, delving into longing, introspection, love, heartbreak and everything in between. Campbell’s voice is soft and unique, in a way that communicates the words spoken and sung with reverence and pain. It was a very interesting act to set the mood for the rest of the evening.

Second up on stage were Lake Malice, bringing noise and chaos into the venue. Influenced by Japanese Anime and heavy riffs, the duo from Brighton knew exactly how to set the stage alight. The performance was extremely energetic, with a lot of dynamism, heavy riffs, a mix of clean and screamo vocals, a lot of dancing and jumping and a centre circle pit/conga to top it all off. The band seemed genuinely in their element on stage, performing some of their newest songs mixing a variety of genres such as rock, tech-metal, pop, punk and electro. To finish off their performance, they held a drum against the audience to play the final beats, as everyone kept jumping along and matching the band’s energy. They are a very promising duo, set to perform Slum Dunk and Wacken Open Air this summer – and rightfully so!

It is my second time seeing As December Falls and the growth of this band from a year ago is astounding. The band is no stranger to turning small gigs into spectacles, as their fierce energy and stage presence speaks for itself. Asking people if they’d come and see them for their headline tour – hopefully next year – and engaging with the audience constantly, they had the crowd in the palm of their hands through the whole set. Reminding everyone about how they are a proudly independent group, their approach seemed to be paying off. Performing tirelessly, with their vocalist dancing like there is no tomorrow and ending the set with a back-breaking backbend, they did not hit a single wrong note. They performed a mix of old and new songs, even having people sing along to some of them, they had the crowd bouncing all the way through the elaborate set. They are truly a band to keep watching – they are well built to start performing larger venues soon.

RORY, or Rox, hit the stage just after 9.30pm, with her band and cathedral-like set making the gig feel like a catharctic and religious experience. Her crystal clear voice and stage presence reminded me of the rock – and much much cooler version – of Demi Lovato, as she sang high notes and lower tones effortlessly. RORY is a truly gifted musician and songwriter, communicating with her audience like no one other. Being very open and vulnerable about her life struggles, addiction issues, debt, her encounters with death and battling inner demons, she has channelled her tragic life journey into a transformative experience pouring it into her lyrics and music. Integrating a range of genres such as pop and rock, she creates the safest of spaces to enjoy a gig and embrace oneself as they are.

Her setlist included a variety of songs such as ‘Uncomplicated’, ‘Help Your Friends Get Sober’, ‘My Chemical Romance’, ‘My Funeral Song’ – performed on stage with As December Falls’ vocalist Bethany Curtis in a very powerful rendition, she lifted up the audience to jump and dance around. In the middle of the set, RORY moved to the balcony of the O2 Forum, admitting that she really wanted to perform on it for the acoustic section of her set. Lit by a single spotlight, she hovered over the audience as she sang her sadder songs, and a sea of phones lit up underneath her. Talking about her personal journey, the death of her beloved mother and her struggles with addiction, she performed ‘Jesus & John Lennon’, ‘Morality Suicide’ and ‘hold on’. Admittedly, it sounded like singing those songs live was as difficult for her as she warned her audience, even though she did say that there is a silver lining to all this: writing a song in the lowest point in her life, and performing it feeling the happiest she ever was is definitely a transformative experience – for both an artist and her audience.

Ending her set with hits ‘WOLVES’, ‘Sorry I’m Late’ and ‘Blossom’, RORY’s sadcore music and vulnerable but candid lyrics seemed to have done the trick, with the audience asking for more and having a great time, despite the heaviness of the music. If anything, RORY’s message as an artist should be a great motivation for everyone that there is always light in darkness – one must only remember to look for it.