The Lower Third is based in the bustling heart of London, and after descending the steps into its cavernous venue, we are greeted with a rather nifty live room. Its raw concrete, brutalist walls are conducive to a great sound, and it’s one that tonight’s opener’s Orchard, put to good use. They’re an eight-piece band who remind me of a younger version of Stone Foundation and deliver a similar soulful sound. Despite operating as an octet, the stage doesn’t look cluttered, and they don’t sound it either; each band member buds and blossoms at the optimum moment, coming to the fore then receding as required. Original tracks are rich and velvety and flow like silk and Grateful makes for a memorable conclusion and signposts big things.
Orchard
Fresh from Brighton’s Great Escape festival, CROOKS INC hit The Lower Third stage like a well-oiled machine and by the time we hit second track London Is Mine, the band are firmly in their groove. There’s an otherworldly, dreamy nature to many of their songs and they are tunes that radiate good vibes throughout the venue. The band lock in tightly and display a good chemistry, almost a sixth sense, and that’s vitally important when it comes to songs such as You & I with its staccato riff. There’s plenty of variety on offer to ensure that their set ebbs and flows perfectly, there’s a good use of musical dynamics that juxtaposes loud with quiet sections and sung by a vocalist with an impressive range, all of which makes CROOKS INC an intriguing proposition.
CROOKS INC
Such is the buzz and expectation surrounding Nao Yoshioka’s appearance tonight that even the crew get a cheer as they’re preparing the stage, and the tension that’s generated as the clock slowly ticks towards showtime becomes palpable. When Nao and her band finally take to the stage, that cheer becomes an ocean’s roar and Feeling So Bright makes for a perfect set opener. In a bright orange top and moving with feline grace, Nao has definite star quality and ensures that every pair of eyes (and ears) are turned towards the stage. Backed by a solid band who provide a solid bedrock, Nao performs all sorts of vocal gymnastics on top, yet even when she sings soliloquy, she commands the crowd’s full attention; when Nao sings, people listen!
Nao Yoshioka
It’s a set list that stops along all points of Nao’s career with the Shuko remix of Nobody Chase Me going down particularly well and a melody of Make The Change and If You U Believe being particularly poignant. ‘Are you ready to dance?’ Nao asks as an introduction to My Love and the crowd don’t need asking twice as the band and crowd become one to turn the whole venue into a huge dance floor. There are no encores tonight and that means the set comes to something of a sudden stop with Unapologetically Me, yet there’s not a person present who hasn’t been touched by Nao’s heartfelt performance.
Nao Yoshioka
Nao Yoshioka Set List:
1. Feeling So Bright
2. Free As A Bird
3. Nobody Chase Me (Shuko Remix)
4. Love Is What We Find
5. LOST
6. Selfish
7. Note To Self
8. You Never Know
9. Wave
10. Make The Change/If U Believe
11. My Love
12. Unapologetically Me
Photography: by JJ Grant (wonderlens)
