With the success of recently released single ‘Think Too Much, Feel Too Little’ making it into the
top 10 on the iTunes alternative charts, Birmingham boys JAWS head off on tour.
Of course, any tour wouldn’t
be complete without stopping off in Sheffield for a greatly received show at
The Plug.
First to support were local band Tropic of
Youth who opened the night with a set full of summer haziness, beachy vibes and
danceable melodies. Singles ‘Poa Kichizi Kama Ndizi’ (Swahili for ‘Crazy Cool Like a Banana’) and ‘You’ brought about a youthful sound featuring
lilting guitars and bouncing bass-lines alongside dreamy vocals creating that
hot tropic summer we all wish we had here in Sheffield.
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| Tropic of Youth |
Next up were Brighton’s The Magic Gang who graced the stage with a sound similar to their
vintage style featuring retro
guitars and distorted vocals, reminiscent of 90’s grunge and the early days of rock and roll.
Tracks ‘She Won’t Ghost’ and ‘Shallows’ projected a melancholic feel across the venue and with main vocals
from both Jack Kaye and Kristian Smith, this mixed up the set giving it a
rough-edged rawness that worked both instrumentally and lyrically.
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| The Magic Youth |
After much anticipation, JAWS entered stage
opening with the hook-laden garage pop track ‘Time’ before going into the distorted opening of ‘Donut’ which flowed
straight into beachy surf rock. And who
said that man’s best friend is a
dog? Frontman Connor Schofield introduced the next song with ’this one goes out to anyone with a cat’ and the band burst
into the billowing synths of ‘Friend
Like You’ featured in the last series of Made In Chelsea, one of Schofield's
self-stated favourite TV show.
Latest release ‘Think Too Much, Feel Too Little’ opened with rhythmic guitars and punchy
percussion that lulled the crowd into a euphoric whirl of dancing and crowd
surfing whilst the dreamy drones of Schofield's vocals drifted over smooth
bass-lines. Lyrics 'we get it, we get it, it's over / I go back to being alone'
spoke of the tales of teen-carelessness and heartache which connected well with
the adolescent crowd. ‘Toucan
Surf’ also channelled the relatable with lyrics ‘there’s not a lot for me to
do when I’m sitting on my own’ alongside glittering
guitars and bouncy rhythms that received an enthusiastic response from the
crowd.
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| Connor of JAWS |
There was an effortlessness surrounding the
performance and the blissful, laid-back feeling that JAWS are renowned for
really shone through. However, this didn’t stop the crowd from going a little bit crazy to near every song,
including the likes of ‘Breeze’ —
one of the bands slower-paced shimmering synth-laden
tracks. Bassist Jake Cooper said: ‘I
don’t think we’ve ever had anyone mosh so hard, if someone
falls down make sure you pick them up’.
This wasn’t the only act of
kindness from the boys as the closed with fan-favourite ‘Gold’ and drummer Ed Geach proceeded to hand out
drumsticks to lucky members of the crowd, whilst Jake knuckle touched a few
fans on the front row.
Have you caught JAWS on their April-May tour? Let us
know what you thought below!
Words by Ellen Offredy
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| Alex of JAWS |
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| Ed of JAWS |
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| Jake of JAWS |
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