OVER the last few months, Whitley Bay four-piece Lisbon have gone from strength to strength and tonight's show at Brighton's The Hope and Ruin serves as a landmark in their glistening career to date. Support comes from 17 year old multi-instrumentalist Declan McKenna, an artist who has also seen a great deal of success so early on into his musical career with a Glastonbury Emerging Talent slot under his belt and a contract with Columbia Records firmly secured.
McKenna's brand of abstract electro pop is brilliantly unapologetic in its delivery and it translates well live. The young artist's set feels euphoric, especially with a play of hit track 'Brazil' which the singer announces by saying "If you know just one of my tracks, this is the one." The fretwork on the track is particularly impressive and the soft croon on 'Paracetamol' also stands out for all the right reasons. It's electronic pop done in just the right way and it's one that hits home. You get the feeling that this will be the track crowds at major festivals will be chanting, give it a few years.
The weather being particularly drizzly on the night sees more people filter in front of the stage for Lisbon's headline set and what a start they get off to. As the quartet take to the stage and unleash an impenetrable wall of sound with their shimmery indie anthems. Their set is simply a wave of beautifully hedonistic euphoria, the band's led by frontman Matthew Varty are frenetic and captivating in their stage presence. The packed out crowd groove and sing all the words to 'Native' whilst 'Khaleesi' is unveiled early on to a deafening response from gig-goers.
It's an adrenaline-fuelled performance from start to finish and every track is a high-point for the group. Latest cut 'Vice' is given an airing too and the 80s-infused number flaunts rich guitars and is underpinned by a funk beat that is vital to the track's success.
The hooks contagious hooks of 'Rio' recall those of fellow Northerners Little Comets and it's this number that they choose to end the night on. Pounding drums match infectious circling riffs beat for beat and the crowd erupts chanting for more as the last note fades out.
Lisbon are a band that you'll undoubtedly see more than once. Their live indie pop thrills leave you with a hunger for more; they're that good. The band sizzle infectiously on all they do, leaving listeners with the impression that they are certainly going places and we can't wait to see where they go from here.
Words Lauren Wade
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