From Vogue magazine’s ‘indie music breakout star’ of 2012 to a successful solo musician in her own right – Lucy Rose has come along way from being Bombay Bicycle Club’s backing vocalist. Establishing herself as the industry’s ‘nice girl’ singer-songwriter, Rose has taken a new, edgier direction with her follow-up Work It Out. Gone are the folky overtones of the first, replaced with amplified synths and grittier rock n roll sounds.
Attracting a diverse crowd, it seems there is nobody who remains disenchanted by Lucy Rose. Standing amongst them, it isn’t hard to see why. There is no bravado with Lucy, no heightened sense of pride in her unequivocal success. If anything, she seems defensive, insecure – not fully established in her song writing ability. She need not worry – she had the crowd in the palm of her hands.
There is no bravado with Lucy, no heightened sense of pride in her unequivocal successDefiantly starting the set with the sleek new track ‘Cover Up’; Rose rids herself of her ‘folk-girl’ persona in one twitchy, clattering bout of electronica. Work It Out marks a digression from her original sound, something Rose had admitted “worries her”. Yet she need not have worried; for the mass of fans stood in the sweltering Rescue Rooms lapped it up. To them, Lucy Rose could do no wrong.
Defiantly starting the set with the sleek new track ‘Cover Up’; Rose rids herself of her ‘folk-girl’ persona in one twitchy, clattering bout of electronica. Work It Out marks a digression from her original sound, something Rose had admitted “worries her”. Yet she need not have worried; for the mass of fans stood in the sweltering Rescue Rooms lapped it up. To them, Lucy Rose could do no wrong.
The delightfully indie-pop ‘Our Eyes’ is greeted with enthusiastic dancing, whilst ‘Till the End’ sets Rose’s stunning vocals against big, bolshy pop beats. Bringing back to the stage her alt-pop support act Flyte, Rose bursts into bouncy pop song ‘Like An Arrow’, with the boys harmoniously crooning alongside the chorus. It was a tender moment to watch the band sing along to Rose’s verses, showcasing a sweet solidarity amongst the artists. Not that it’s hard to remember the catchy lyrics of ‘Like An Arrow’, as the crowd proved as they bellowed back to her.
Not to neglect her beloved debut, she played some old favourites; Middle of the Bed being a appreciated crowd pleaser whilst Lines and Night Bus were greeted with a roar of gratitude. The true intensity of her fan-base was shown when the crowd went wild after only one chord in to Bikes, sparking shocked laughter from Rose.
It’s hard to believe she struggles with ‘how much to reveal’ through her lyrics, as the delicate performance of ‘Shiver’ seems to be the most honest of all. Likewise, ‘Nebraska’ descends into a haunting end, letting the audience reflect on her exquisite vocals and romantic lyrics. It easily feels like the rawest track of the night.
Lucy Rose ends the show by genuinely and wholeheartedly thanking the fans. She says she is exploring and hoping to find the perfect song – After that performance, I think her fans will be happy to share with that quest with her.
Rebecca Marano
Image: Man Alive vis Flickr
