Bastille, live at The Academy

Though London indie popsters Bastille only released their debut LP Bad Blood last month, they’ve gathered an enthusiastic fanbase, as is evident in tonight’s packed Academy...

Simultaneously praised (the album went to No. 1 in the UK) and berated (‘post-Coldplay’ is the slur of choice on many a website), Dan Smith’s outfit is unashamedly poppy and anthemic, which as it turns out, makes for a very fun live show.

Opening with the album’s melodic title track, Smith – all big hair and skinny jeans – takes us through Bad Blood, a project which may lull in parts, but also boasts some excellent tunes. ‘Overjoyed’ and ‘Icarus’ have this crowd screaming back every word, while some choice ‘90s choonage – Snap’s ‘Rhythm Of The Night’ and City High’s ‘What Would You Do?’ prove Dan & Co. don’t take themselves too seriously. “What I took from those songs”, Smith told HP’s Paul Nolan earlier this year, “wasn’t the production, it was the hooks… It’s acknowledging that there’s greatness in them somewhere. And how contagious a massive song or a hook-y chorus can be.”
Amen! The band finish with tune-of-the-year-so-far ‘Pompeii’, returning for an encore of piano-led ballad ‘Get Home’ and feelgood groove ‘Flaws’. Poptastic stuff.