REVIEW: BEN HOWARD + DAUGHTER AT BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY (29/02/12)
Tonight, Bristol’s O2 Academy welcomes Daughter and Ben Howard to the stage for a sold out show. Having received critical acclaim for his debut album ‘Every Kingdom’ and gaining plenty of radio airplay with bucket loads of marketing, it’s no wonder that the academy is full to the brim. That’s the problem with this venue. As soon as there’s a sold out show, it’s an absolute nightmare to enjoy; with elbows galore and snappy teenage girls with plenty of attitude, the evening doesn’t get off to the brightest of starts.
Daughter shyly shuffles on to the stage – giving a girlish wave and picking up her guitar. Accompanied by Igor Haefei and Remi Aguilella, Daughter’s songs shine. Playing tunes from her E.P’s ‘His Young Heart’ and ‘The Wild Youth,’ Elena’s voice could make even the toughest of hearts shatter. ‘Candles’ is a stand out track, whilst ‘Love’ is a perfect mix of aggression and vulnerability. It’s a shame then, that most of the crowd seem intent on talking during her set, making it difficult to hear. Nevertheless, this girl is special and 2012 is set to be Daughter’s year.
After a half an hour wait in the sticky smog, Ben Howard saunters onto stage, accompanied by his two band members. The crowd full of NME darlings goes wild, as he plays songs such as ‘Patience’ and ‘The Wolves.’ What you might not know, is that Ben plays his guitar flat which is rather quirky of him. As he creates strums and beats using just the one instrument, it’s clear the guy has talent but somewhat lacking in originality. Nevertheless, Howard’s voice is divine – crooning his way through, the audience come to a standstill to witness some of the softer numbers.
Ben’s female band member is most impressive, as she switches from bass, to drums, to cello – proving her undeniable capabilities. Daughter even comes back on stage for a brief appearance to sing ‘Black Flies’ with Ben – the absolute highlight of the show. The two of them should really think about recording together. As he finishes with ‘The Fear’ the audience erupt into a frenzy and Ben gracefully gives thanks. A show full of merit and capability, with a pretty voice and nice melodies – it’s just a shame that it’s not enough to make a lasting impression.
Words: Sammy Maine
