This entire review will be written completely without bias – that’s an important statement to read first. Secondly, ignore the previous statement!
Example kicked off his UK tour last night inCardiff to a sell-out at the Motorpoint Arena and those that were present were not left wanting. It’s his first arena tour after playing smaller venues at the tail end of 2011, so this was pretty much that tour on a grander scale. The venue may have been bigger, but the intimacy that was generated was still the same as I’d witnessed at Cardiff Uni in December. The crowd were loving all the “classics” (yes… classic is the right word) like Watch the sun come up, Natural Disaster, and Kickstarts. Together with some big album tracks from Playing in the Shadows.
[slideshow]
He also debut three new songs including collaboration with Calvin Harris out in July. If you’ve ever wondered had good a song is, try this; hear it for the first time, and before the end you know the main hook and can sing along with it’s anthemic chorus. There’s also a Flux Pavillion collaboration too and the other new song I’ll post the video when I get home (I’ll post a montage of the gig!)
In the week I pondered the question, what kind of style of music is Example. Did it completely randomly on twitter and added his @example tag – and he replied! Most bizarre feeling ever to get replied to by him – “it’s all just music innit”
http://twitter.com/#!/officialpoptart/status/192754736062152705
Back to last night and the biggest song of the night was his biggest song from just under a year ago. The first bars hit the air and the surge from the crowd was amazing, a real “hairs on the back of your neck” moment.
So last night in Cardiff “just music” wasn’t just what it was. People came to worship at the alter of Example, and left feeling enlightened. If you’re a fan you do have to see this guy live – probably one of the best live shows of 2012 you’ll see for sheer music passion.
Elliot John Gleave, you really are a shining example of quality live music!
Review by Patrick Downes www.twitter.com/officialpoptart
(Full photos and video to follow)