Review: Ezra Collective, O2 Academy – ‘An incredibly entertaining spectacle’

I’ve never been to a gig before where the band asks the whole audience to turn to a stranger near them and introduce themselves. It’s something that I could find quite annoying but Ezra Collective are so genuine that I couldn’t help but shake hands with the dad next to me.

From the very start, Ezra Collective’s joyous energy was unbelievable. Fresh from the EU, this gig marked the beginning of their UK tour and the band’s excitement was palpable.

Through their enthusiasm, optimism and joy, they spread this excitement round every part of the O2 Academy.

With the blaring horns of Ego Killah, Ezra Collective made their way through the crowd in dramatic fashion. The first thing you notice is just how tight they are as a band. Every instrument has its moment with every other.

On No Confusion, Ogunjobi’s trumpet and Mollison’s sax are both played with such coordination and passion that it feels as intense as a fight. But instead of fighting for attention, the two instruments fuse into one beast.

These moments of connection are what make Ezra Collective. Other moments like in their brilliant cover of Sun Ra’s Space Is The Place show Femi Koleoso’s drums and Joe Armon-Jones’ keys also somehow sync up.

This synchronisation is far more hard to imagine but perfectly showcases just how connected each member truly is.

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Leading this talent is the incredibly loveable drummer Femi Koleoso. Koleoso’s drumming is unbelievably entertaining to watch; his movements are completely fluid and he perfectly masters the balance between showing off and letting the others shine.

Equally fluid is TJ Koleoso, whose bass playing is so clean and playful that you wonder how his sound could come from four fat strings.

The band have so much respect for one another’s talents, as you can see from their shocked faces every time Armon-Jones rips yet another insane riff on the keys.

The gig wasn’t purely about raw talent though as Ezra Collective also know how to put on an incredibly entertaining spectacle.

The highlight of the set was when the bass, sax and trumpet made their way into the crowd for an absolutely invigorating performance of Victory Dance.

Even with the band split up, half on stage and half in the crowd, they were equally tight, with complete control over the audience. Never have I seen the O2 Academy this buzzing.

Finally, what made this gig even more special was the band’s love for Bristol.

As well as Koleoso’s speech on the troubling realities of being a touring musician, he shared their relationship with Bristol, from their humble beginnings in The Canteen, to packed shows in Thekla, The Beacon and more.

The love felt completely genuine and, when the man next to me excitedly lifted up his dad’s jacket to point at the Ezra Collective t-shirt reading “Bristol is where I’m meant to be”, it really did feel like it was true.

Main photo: Darren C Photography

Read next:

• Review: Tom Moore & Archie Moss, Downend Folk & Roots – ‘A sweeping, star-gazing soundtrack’
• Review: SUEP, The Crofters Rights – ‘Eclectic arrangement of songs tied together by playful synth melodies’
• Review: Let Spin, Strange Brew – ‘They are a group of contrasts and striking dynamics’

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