Live Review: Turin Brakes – 14th November 2024 – Union Chapel, London, UK
6 min read
Almost a year on from our last time seeing a show in Islington and for the same band, we made our way over to North London venue, Union Chapel last night to welcome Belham boys Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian – otherwise known as Turin Brakes – along with bands mates Rob Allum and Eddie Myer, back to the capital for the folk-pop collectives latest acoustic tour.
That last time seeing the band was in celebration of their sophomore record, Ether Song down the road at Islington Assembly Hall in December ’23 and while this latest string of sold-out dates across the UK wasn’t in support of a new record, the band have become so well known for these types of stripped back shows that fan demand helps make the decision to do them, well, a bit of a no-brainer.
For any regular readers of Renowned for Sound, it’s fairly well known how much we adore Union Chapel as a place to see performances. We’ve seen quite a few shows within the stained-glass windowed confines of what is easily our favourite venue. And anyone that knows this Renowned for Sound Editor, will know how much of a fan I am of this outfit, so a pairing of the two was always going to be something quite special. And it was also a bit of a full circle moment, not just for a number of personal stories I could sit here at write at length about, but having started reviewing live shows here on Renowned for Sound with a Turin Brakes concert at Shepherds Bush Empire on 26th March 2010 when the band were busy promoting their Outbursts record, it has really felt like quite a journey with the lads.
Opening for the show last night was a familiar face to a Turin Brakes tour. Singer-songwriter Tom Speight put on a fantastic opening performance and has toured and recorded previously with the band. Last night he dished up a handful of his career notables and had the sold-out Union Chapel crowd cheering and dancing along, as well as in fits of laughter as he delivered quirky anecdotes or inserted nostalgic stories in between the guitar driven set of songs, which included a Brazilian chart number 1.
Joined on stage by Lydia Clowes who provided a sweet harmony to Speight’s lead, the two were a hit with fans – especially with performances of fan favs Willow Tree, Heartshaker and an up close and personal live rendition of Jonie where the musician encouraged the crowd to raise their lit up phones in the air as he and Clowes took to the centre of the venue to perform a stripped back and unamplified rendition of Joni. Easily the best support act we have seen in a long time.
With 20 mins between support and headline slot, the crowd darted to the toilets or ventured to the rear of the venue for a drink or to nab one of the Turin Brakes t-shirts on sale, or to snap up one of the few remaining Tom Speight candles that the singer-songwriter jokingly promoted during his set before finding their places just in time for the lights to dim and Turin Brakes to take to the stage as Radiohead’s Creep played through the venue speakers.
With the tour being an acoustic offering, each member of the band remained seated throughout the show as they drove through a career spanning set – touching on most studio albums released by the duo-turned-foursome over the last two decades.
The Optimist LP shone brightly within the night with State Of Things cracking the lid on the evening and touching down on numbers including Underdog (Save Me), Mind Over Money and a punchy Slack encore, while more pop oriented numbers like Keep Me Around from 2016’s Lost Property put the bands versatility as songwriters and skilled musicians with the songs quirky Allum delivered “do-do-do-do-do’s” getting the crowd singing and dancing along to one of the nights many earworm moments.
Paridjanian basked in near solo glory as he told of a stay in Mexico and staying in a place with sandy floors and a pair of hammocks 20 years ago when he wrote Falling Down before his performance of the number while a new unreleased song, Almost was slipped into the set and provided a teaser to the bands upcoming 10th studio album which they confirmed as being completed; having recorded the new collection at Konk studios – the same studio where The Optimist LP was recorded – and set for release in 2025.
Bass player Eddie Myer was his usual charismatic self throughout the show. Delivering his signature sense or humour whether it was telling stories of the band, encouraging the crowd to get involved with gender and gender fluid call backs. Or delivering humorous shout outs to the merchandise stand and drawing attention to the t-shirt his drummer band mate, Rob Allum was donning; the band all joining in on joking around about where the audience could purchase said attire. Throughout the entire show, showmanship and camaraderie within the band was on full display.
A stunning performance of Rain City had every member of the crowd holding on to each perfectly delivered note from front-man Olly Knights. You could literally hear a pin drop in the venue as the song was performed with such mesmerising perfection – Knights’ rich, siren vocals filling every arch and crevasse of Union Chapel in a way we have not heard in the venue before. It was a truly special moment with the set.
Fishing For A Dream provided the night with a song always longed for by a Turin Brakes crowd – a fan favourite from the early years – while Sea Change, with its quick delivered and intricate guitar work and in my opinion, one of the bands finest recorded moments (with a video that is a piece of art), was met with thunderous applause with Allum injecting one of the songs more haunting backing vocals during the chorus as he provides each songs gentle percussion.
Dark On Fire – the bands fourth studio album – was also given its time to shine during the evening with two of the nights highlight additions in the shape of the eerier, Americana-seasoned title track and my personal favourite Turin Brakes penning, Bye Pod. A song about the end of one’s days, the songs deeply personal and heartbreaking lyrics detail end of life regrets around working too much and not seeing things in the world and was one of the finest performances I have seen and heard from Turin Brakes in the last 15 years of seeing the band perform live. The cheery on top of an already incredible and memorable show.
With the bands foot-thumping closing of Slack, the venue emptied with fans humming along or telling their partner or friend of their favourite moments with the show – one of the most cohesive and well-oiled performances that we have had the pleasure of being in attendance.
Setlist:
State of Things
Average Man
World Like That
Dark on Fire
Bye Pod
Mind Over Money
Falling Down
Almost
Keep Me Around
No Mercy
Sea Change
Fishing for a Dream
Pain Killer (Summer Rain)
Long Distance
Encore:
Isolation
Rain City
Underdog (Save Me)
Slack
The band continue their tour of the UK through the rest of 2024. Remaining dates below:
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::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
