Silhouette - Radar at the Speakeasy, Belfast
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Radar Live: Silhouette, City of Stars, Allie Bradley
The Speakeasy, Belfast
Thursday 31st May 2012
Following a wonderful few months, this evening’s Radar event at The Speakeasy is to be the last one until the new academic year starts up again in September. But tonight is not a night to grieve, for they are playing host to three fantastic female-fronted acts.
Taking to the stage first is , who is playing for the first time with a full 5-piece band. Although given how well the band gelled on the night, you would think that they have been together for years. ‘I Will Follow’ is a rather tender track, whilst ‘Fireman’ is the closest that Bradley comes to a full-on rock tune. Ever the humble performer, Allie apologizes for being self-absorbed before breaking in to the reggae-tinged ‘I Need Money’, which is the highlight of the set. The crowd has been gradually building throughout and as she boldly finishes her set with an acapella song, she is greeted with a rapturous applause.
are up next with their trademark electro emo-pop. Curiously, the trio stick to vocals/guitar/drums for the duration of their set, with their electronic sounds coming courtesy of Mr A. Mac Laptop. Although this set-up detracts from any chance of live spontaneity, it doesn’t detract from their captivating sound. ‘Last Wish’ is a haunting sub-bass ballad, whilst the pulsating groove of ‘Magic Cape’ certainly sets it aside as a future single. Pint-sized front-woman Jess Willis puts on an emotionally powerful vocal performance, although there is the feeling that she is still getting used to being centre-stage. The band concludes with the guitar-led ‘Untrue’, and as its thumping beats come to a close, it is clear that City of Stars have gained quite a few new supporters.
The crowd is buzzing for the last act of the evening, the highly anticipated . Shauna Tohill is joined by six other musicians for a set of highly sophisticated pop tunes. Shauna spends the first few songs behind her keyboard, banging on the keys like an out-of-control puppet. However, it is when she moves away from the keyboard and takes centre stage that she really comes into her own. Her high energy performance of ‘Volume Destroyed’ is truly captivating, with Shauna owning the stage to such an extent that she should consider charging its other users rent.
New single ‘Running Against the Wall’ goes down incredibly well with the raucous crowd, but the song that receives the biggest reaction is ‘Can’t Keep Up’. Its ubiquitous presence during ad breaks for the past few months mean that from the second it begins, every person in the room sings along to its melody. The band’s encore consists of new song ‘Touch of Cold’, which single-handedly seems to have invented the baroque-screamo genre, and it is clear that Silhouette have ensured that this term’s Radar has ended not with a whimper, but with a monumental bang.
Christopher McBride
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