Review: Lottery Winners, SWX – ‘Bulging with so much passion’

Tonight’s SWX sold out show sees the Lottery Winners on their headline UK This is How it Feels Tour.

I’ve wanted to see Lottery Winners ever since I heard their song Letter To Myself and had it on a loop as I used if for motivation on a cycling trip.

First up is The Deep Blue I’m instantly blown away by their synergy, their voices mould together and form a beautiful soulful mix that is hard not to like.

I can hear Haim and First Aid Kit in them: and that is a massive compliment. He Said She Said combines said influences and then I can hear elements of an upbeat The XX.

There is room for a crowd participation to get the Bristol crowd going on a Sunday evening. I can see why Lottery Winners front man Thomas Rylance is outwardly fuming about how good they are.

“We’ve released a song, because it’s our job” the band smilingly announce before playing closing with new single Somebody’s Daughter which is all about making the world safer for women, a great start to the night and lots of songs stored for future listening.

The place is now packed now for Lottery Winners and I can feel the crowd are up for this one. Luckily, they are too!

They fly on stage a band full of confidence after their number 1 album, Anxiety Replacement Therapy.

Rylance and the band are a bundle of positive energy as the open with Worry meaning they are flying out the blocks with a sing along from the get-go.

I’ve rarely seen a front person with so much to say between songs and seem to be enjoying himself so much as he shouts in the mic doing promo for his own band. He is hilarious and I spent most of the gig with a smile on my face.

They reference playing Bristol venue Thekla to four people a few years back; “tonight is everything we dreamed of” you can tell they mean it.

They then blend a version of Hey Jude into Favourite Flavour which is a massive crowd pleaser.

During 85 Trips front man Thomas relinquishes singing duties to Robert Lally, so he can sketch a member of the audience and give it to them at the end of the song.

The passion is real, Let Me Down (featuring Boy George) gets the whole place dancing and clapping along in unison.

You’re Not Alone is an inclusive anthem made to passionately sing along. Lottery Winners cram so much in I forget they haven’t played my favourite song but happily they then play Letter To Myself as set closer to the obvious pleasure of all the Frank Turner fans who have all turned up in their FTHC t-shirts tonight!

Massive Frank appreciation here tonight, with the band dropping his name a few times on the night as he seems to be a very influential figure and a gateway for many people in discovering this incredible live band.

If you haven’t seen this band go and see them, their show is bulging with so much passion, positivity and I’m so happy when they come back out with to smash Burning House then my new favourite ear worm Start Again.

This song, seems to  encompass  musically and lyrically everything I’ve said above and everything this band means to it’s fans. What a show.

Main photo: Matt Barnes

Read next:

• Review: Holy Moly & The Crackers, The Fleece – ‘Smoky and powerful’
• Review: The Orielles, Strange Brew – ‘The band had grown and developed’
• Review: Pale Blue Eyes, Strange Brew – ‘High energy fun’

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