By Matt Donnelly, MSc Psychology of Education
I arrived at Strange Brew to a picturesque Bristol sunset just two minutes before doors officially opened, slightly taken aback at the size of the queue waiting eagerly to get a glimpse of the hype band. With hindsight, it was hardly surprising.
Divorce’s numerical success on social media platforms and a sold out show in a 200 capacity venue (circa 150 miles from their hometown) speaks for itself. Some 160,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, in this instance, has coherently translated into a community of dedicated fans in the capital of the South West.
Inside, tensions grew as I nursed a flat pint of commercial lager and watched the disco ball-adorned room fill with a demographically eclectic mix of punters, all with a shared agenda.
Dug, a Dublin-based folk duo, provided support, creating a richness of sound in their six-song set that was close to unbelievable, given the scarcity of musicians on the stage. A truly excellent support act that provided a combination of well-executed folk songs and genuinely humorous between-song anecdotes and audience participation.
With bated anticipation, crowd members queued for their final drink of the evening as the stage was prepared for the arrival of the Nottingham quartet.
Then, the time came. The background music faded out, replaced by a smattering of cheers from a room that was now at capacity and, oozing a confidence that is unmistakably characteristic of a band that are high off the release of their debut album, Divorce took the stage.
Opening with ‘Fever Pitch’, we were greeted by the air-tight, unaccompanied vocal harmonies of Tiger Cohen-Towell and Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, a sonic flavour that the group have become renowned for and somewhat reminiscent of Angus and Julia Stone. The track then dropped into intertwining, chorus-soaked, jangling guitars, which was a sound that returned at various points throughout the set - think ‘FEET’ and ‘Peace’.
‘Antarctica’, one of the album’s single releases, was a clear fan favourite, showcasing the lyrical prowess of the group. The heartfelt confession from Mackenzie-Barrow in the line ‘I was made to love you’, which was passionately echoed by Cohen-Towell almost had me weeping into my pint (even flatter by this point).
For me, the highlight of the set came with ‘Pill’, which is a track that effectively showcases the full array of weapons that Divorce have in their arsenal.
Boasting an unapologetically monotonous vocal melody that is merely accompanied by a rock-solid drum groove and equally solid bass line, the audience were hooked on every lyric. The track then erupts into a grungy instrumental, closing with a delicate vocal display over gentle piano. What a rollercoaster.
Co-vocalist Tiger Cohen-Towell came alive as they were unshackled from bass guitar duties for a song, seizing the opportunity to cover every inch of the stage with gracious charisma. Classy.
Mackenzie-Barrow’s rich vocals were given room to breathe at the tail-end of the set in ‘Mercy’, the album’s intimate closing track, where he delicately articulated each line with a Nick Wilson-esque timbre.
The set was topped off with what appeared to be the all-time favourite song of every individual in the room. The track was ‘All My Freaks', a life-affirming indie pop anthem with a palatable smattering of nostalgia.
With that, Divorce modestly left the stage with coy smiles on their faces, off to conquer the next city.
Featured Image: Matt DonnellyWhat's your favourite track from the debut album?
