Review: BC Camplight, SWX – ‘His songs take on a completely new lease of life’

BC Camplight performs in front of all but sold out show at SWX as part of his Last Rotation On Earth Tour. He had even taken to Twitter to give out guestlist tickets to fans, what a guy!

Naturally there was a quick response to snap up those tickets. This show has definitely been eagerly awaited as the new single Kicking Up A Fuss has been on heavy rotation smashing it’s way on to the BBC6 Music A Playlist.

A recent performance on Jools Holland also doesn’t do you any harm either. Both of which are a dream for any artist.

Support tonight comes from Amsterdam based indie rock band, Personal Trainer, a band I discovered through BBC6 Music.

Rug Busters is undeniably a LCD Soundsystem lead funky groove is a indie dancefloor filler for sure. Smit has a unique stage presence there’s crab hands, jazz hands and a lot of wiggling around the stage.

It feels like Smit has invited all his friends to play on stage. At last count there was about 65 members on stage with four drummers all sharing one giant symbol.

They have a gloriously rambunctious marching rock sound that is full of catchy basslines and infectious energy; verything you need from indie rock.

SWX is then awash with blue light and has gone heavy on the smoke machines as the piano some thought randomly was a desk is wheeled out and Brian James Christinzio aka BC Camplight takes to the stage dressed head to toe in black.

The scene is set for one hell of a party.

He wastes no time and opens with the new albums title track Last Rotation on Earth, to his left is multi -instrumentalist Hattie Coombe who is surrounded by every musical instrument you can imagine; she also provides the perfect backing vocals.

Referencing his newfound fan base filling the floor in front of him he recalls being electrocuted in a former Louisiana show many years ago to a yelp from someone who was clearly there too, or is just a fan of people being electrocuted maybe?

BC Camplight is the king of self-deprecating humour; constantly letting his inner monologue spill and getting all the laughs.

Cemetery Lifestyle is self-proclaimed as “the best song ever” and his songs take on a completely new lease of life. His lyrics jump out as witty, introspective and delivered with a voice that’s equally epic going high or baritone. His vocals are deep and rich.

He tries to sit down playing the piano but often ends up perching or punching the air with his stool. He plays the piano with power. The piano is booming and hits me right in the chest as I’ve got as close as possible to get maximum Camplight.

Kicking Up A Fuss is a funky indie pop crowd pleaser. A song that has been trapped in my psyche for the last before and after this gig. He jokes that even he got sick of it coming on the radio so much which is a good problem to have!

Every song is accompanied with a story at a BC Camplight gig and pretty much everyone has the crowd laughing. I love how he provides context to every song. I now listen to his lyrics and get it.

Desperate kicks off big time and it’s a song I didn’t know I knew and the perfect song to get everyone moving as the set moves to its conclusion.

Atom Bomb is the eventual choice for a set closer. The piano ballad chosen as “I don’t want my crowd to leave happy” which in turn makes everyone smile and happy.

It’s a beautiful way to end a memorable show with Kicking Up A Fuss now going around and around my mind – in a good way.

Main photo: Mark Chesser 

Read next:

• Review: Ward Knutur Townes, Downend Folk & Roots – ‘Folk in its widest sense’
• Review: Flook, Redgrave Theatre – ‘An absolute powerhouse’
• Review: Baby Queen, Trinity – ‘Full of energy’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: