Review: Half Moon Run, SWX – ‘The crowd were transfixed’

I have to say I left this gig left me energised and inspired.

This is pretty good going for a band that my only experience of Half Moon Run to this point was a recommendation from a friend and some intensive streaming in the lead-up to this gig at SWX.

It started so well as I took my place stage right to catch support artist Margaret Glaspy she took to the stage dressed in black and a voice set to attack. Delivering beauty and angst in equal measures.

She smiles while delivering heart breaking lyrics with eyes shut during Memories commanding my attention. Emotions and Math makes me want to move and also want to listen to everything she’s ever done. Sometimes simplicity is the key.

A person with just an electric guitar can be so emotionally striking and can cut straight through that stress you felt before the entering the gig. She does this and she was clearly having a blast doing it.

I’m so glad the Bristol crowd got here early to experience her voice, her passion and she clearly appreciated it too.  I felt soothed and excited for the night ahead.

Half Moon Run then took to the stage fresh from London show in Kentish Town this their third date on their UK tour.

They are all smiles as they hit the stage running and jump straight into You Can Let Go the crowd jump straight into it too! All cheers and smiles. I’ve got a good feeling about this one.

Then Hotel in Memphis has EVERYONE grooving! They’ve got me in their sweaty pockets. The music transforms live to music to dance to and even find myself stomping during 9beat where they both play the same drum as the guitar loops reminiscent of Radiohead’s weird fishes (if you squint).

I found myself franticly trying to find out each song as they flew through old and new. It didn’t seem to matter which they played as the crowd were transfixed as hugs and smiles surrounded me.

There was time for keyboards to fail, drum sticks to fly out to the crowd a harmonica giveaway to one lucky fan. Then official Half Moon Run red oven gloves bought by one mega fan in 2016 were hoisted on to stage making that fans day and probably year.

Half Moon Run layer vocals over sublime use of percussion using about 15 different guitars and some stunning guitar solos without going over the top.

More indie than rock but more rock than I had expected, they made me dance and made me sing, and that’s the point, isn’t it?

The encore delivered even more of what the crowd wanted I changed position to go up the balcony to be met by once fan shouting “OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS SONG!!!” in my face! Fire Escape went down well then!

Then to Full Circle which is a glorious set finisher, if it was possible for people to sing more they did, with the band giving lead vocals to the crowd as they became a choir.

I got excited at the end and screamed so loud I nearly burst my own ear drum. As I said above, I left energised and inspired, with mild hearing damage.

Main photo: Matt Barnes

Read next:

• Review: Temples, The Fleece – ‘A cornicupa of delights’
• Review: Balancing Act, Crofters Rights – ‘Bursting with Charisma’
• Review: Lily Moore, The Louisiana – ‘Part Amy Winehouse, part Adele but 100% Lily’

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