REVIEW: EXAMPLE AT PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS (23/11/11)
As 4,000 people each filled their lungs with air ready to scream for when Example took to the stage, when they finally did the crowd went wild. As each mouth screamed with excitement, releasing the air they were holding, the pavilions were drowned in noise as the bass kicked in and the music filled the hall.
With an opening performance of ‘Skies don’t lie’ and ‘Stay Awake’, Example’s talent is apparent from the word go. Firstly, this man can actually sing, rap, the lot. Secondly, the band are talented enough to play their own instruments. And finally they do it all better live.
Aside from his sometimes somewhat controversial opinions, front man Elliot Gleave is a pretty laidback kind of guy. Already having worked up a sweat he tells the crowd “I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a sweaty gig. I’ve also got a feeling this gonna be a good night”.
And if you haven’t already worked it out yet, the name Example is cleverly abbreviated from his first and second initials. Oh you get it now? Clever eh.
With performances of ‘Won’t Go Quietly’ and ‘Hooligans’ the energy that had been building up in each of us throughout the performance was about to burst out.
With the crowd now almost chanting ‘we came we saw we killed the crowd’ the adrenaline was rushing through us as almost like a mantra those eight words were repeated over and over again.
Next, ‘Midnight Run’, and as Gleave shouts out “Pavilions you know what to do; sing it to me” the crowd appear to obey everything he says. Then revealing yet another side to the usual upbeat tempos, Example slowed it down with a country and western style performance of ‘Playing in the Shadows’.
Just as Gleave says “That was all the shit songs out the way” the early beats of ‘Kickstarts’ start to creep in and a wave of exhilaration begins to seep amongst the crowd.
With such an energetic aura, Example is far from disappointing and you are left buzzing, practically begging for more. And with encores of ‘Natural Disaster’ and ‘Changed the Way You Kissed Me’ you know it’s going to be good. With adrenaline-busting performances of both songs, Example put all remaining energy they had into making the last two the best of the night.
And for that one night, for the 90 minutes of pure ecstasy we had permission to go absolutely wild. And we did. Well, what can I say? We were led by Example.
Words and photos: Sophie Stamp
