The Rocket Summer (Islington Academy, 6.11.17)
Off to Islington Academy last night for an all too infrequent headline show from The Rocket Summer. TRS is the project of Bryce Avary, who plays all of his instruments on his predominantly pop-rock records. Obviously he requires back up in a live setting, but still flits about the stage from guitar to keyboard to a 2nd microphone for vocal loops. And then back again.
He was playing his third record "Do You Feel" in its entirety for its tenth anniversary, which is top heavy with stone cold bangers, including "So Much Love", a pop song so infectious that it must be a chart topper in at least one alternative reality.
It surprises me that Avary hasn't acquired a larger fanbase. An answer might be found in the bouncy "A Song Is Not A Business Plan", in which he sings "This is me, singing words I actually mean. I won't comprise this thing just to make it". There's an appealing earnestness and sincerity in what he does that never becomes saccharine or banal. He moved his mic stand into the middle of the floor for an acoustic "Run To You". In the wrong hands, this would be a naff gesture but it becomes an unexpected highlight of the show.
Giant album closer "So, In This Hour.." provides a memorable finale that is a good deal more "rock" than "pop". We then moved into an extended greatest hits set, the highlights of which were a huge heavy rendition of "FL, CA" from last year's "Zoetic" record and "200,000", a life affirming tribute to love and one of my favourite songs of his.
In a mammoth 1 hour 50 minute set, there is the occasional moment of self indulgence and Avary closes the main set with some messing around with loops that even Ed Sheeran might have thought was a bit much. But he's earned more than enough goodwill by that point to compensate. It was a joyous night out with a consummate entertainer who deserves more recognition.
He was playing his third record "Do You Feel" in its entirety for its tenth anniversary, which is top heavy with stone cold bangers, including "So Much Love", a pop song so infectious that it must be a chart topper in at least one alternative reality.
It surprises me that Avary hasn't acquired a larger fanbase. An answer might be found in the bouncy "A Song Is Not A Business Plan", in which he sings "This is me, singing words I actually mean. I won't comprise this thing just to make it". There's an appealing earnestness and sincerity in what he does that never becomes saccharine or banal. He moved his mic stand into the middle of the floor for an acoustic "Run To You". In the wrong hands, this would be a naff gesture but it becomes an unexpected highlight of the show.
Giant album closer "So, In This Hour.." provides a memorable finale that is a good deal more "rock" than "pop". We then moved into an extended greatest hits set, the highlights of which were a huge heavy rendition of "FL, CA" from last year's "Zoetic" record and "200,000", a life affirming tribute to love and one of my favourite songs of his.
In a mammoth 1 hour 50 minute set, there is the occasional moment of self indulgence and Avary closes the main set with some messing around with loops that even Ed Sheeran might have thought was a bit much. But he's earned more than enough goodwill by that point to compensate. It was a joyous night out with a consummate entertainer who deserves more recognition.
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