Live Review

Superfood, Heaven, London

9th April 2015

There are limbs flying everywhere for the Birmingham band.

Words: Ali Shutler
Photos: Emma Swann
4th October 2015

Moments before Superfood take to the lofty stage at London’s Heaven a few stray bubbles appear from nowhere, float skywards then simply cease to be. It’s a flashback to the band that headlined The Old Blue Last eight months earlier with a foam machine but, now with a debut album to their name and many more miles notched up; it’s all that remains of that Birmingham rabble. In their place stand a band confident in themselves and versed in crowd chaos.

Black Honey open the evening’s festivities with a powerful five-song set. The sparse rotation of ‘Spinning Wheel’ is a gentle introduction to the Brighton four-piece but it doesn’t last long. A minute later and things kick off, a plastic flamingo is sent flying from the stage and the hypnotic lull of the vocals is replaced by spine-tingling screams. ‘Madonna’ swiftly follows, all swaggering potential and sneering shade before ‘Sleep Forever’ dances in the shadows. “I wish I could sleep forever,” sings Izzy B. Phillips before asking, mid song, “Have you guys ever wished you were dead?” She answers without waiting for the reply, “Yeah, I feel your pain.” As she carries on, half buried by the glorious noise that surrounds her, every word rings true. Their final song sees Izzy mouthing “Love me,” to the baying masses before spraying beer, the bottle opened with her teeth moments earlier, over them. Then, Black Honey disappear without waiting for the response but the admiring glances that follow them off-stage say it all.

“I want you to go mental,” says Oli Burslem halfway through Yak’s set. It’s a tall ask, considering the crowd have been losing it since the unfurling start of their set. An unrelenting trio of songs kicks things off for the London three-piece, one folding into another without a moment’s pause before debut single ‘Hungry Heart’ demands ceremony. More beer is sprayed over the crowd, this time like a podium finish, and the band get playful. ‘Smile’ comes with the above demand and, one speedy countdown later, the crowd oblige as the band careen about the stage. As their furious rock, rolls towards its conclusion Oli passes his guitar to the crowd, letting it carve a path for him to follow as in the distance one more circle opens up.

Taking to the stage backed by an soundtrack with astral ambition, Superfood are given a heroes’ welcome as they fall into the sunshine-baiting ‘You Can Believe.’ More direct that its recorded counterpart, its escapist dreams are now a glorious reality. The surging throng may sing back “Want to believe, want to get out,” with conviction but the extended limbs and gleeful expressions tell a different tale; they wouldn’t be anywhere else on earth than right here in Heaven.

It’s a dedication that follows Superfood through the 15-song set. From the spindly ‘Pallasades’, through the cartoonish stomp of ‘Melting’ until the ridiculous abandon of ‘Lily For Your Pad To Rest On’, each song sets something new off within the room. It’s a textured assault that reflects the constant growth Superfood are going through. “This song is about havin’ it and not wearing earplugs,” explains Dom Ganderton with a knowing smile as he introduces ‘TV’. The room embraces this knowledge with ease; they’ve been uninhibited from the off.

Photos: Emma Swann

Tags: Superfood, Reviews, Live Reviews