With many gigs I go to these days I am often in the higher echelon of the age range of the audience. Tonight though I think that I raised the average age by at least thirty years and probably closer to forty. Indeed one of our party was celebrating their 17th birthday and she was one of many father and daughters in the audience and us dads did get a song dedicated to us on the night by Phoebe.
Arriving just before the end of the support act the Academy is already rammed and no one is moving an inch with apparently some uber fans arriving early morning to bag their front row spot.
What's clear from the stage is that this is going to be a proper show and not just a bunch of random lights. Indeed the backdrop is in the style of a pop-up book that animates differently for each song as the leaves are turned to introduce the tune.
It’s fair to say that Bridgers has had an eventful life with abusive relationships, issues with her sexuality and an abortion too. She often addresses many of these issues in her songs and I think that’s why she resonates so strongly with her largely young female fan base. She's not afraid to tackle the difficult issues whether its campaigning or in her songs and she is superb role model for her fans in that respect. It’s clear it’s a devoted set of fans as they sing back every word of every song throughout.
Whatever the subject of the songs what's clear is that they are, above everything, very good songs. The songwriting is first class and the delivery tonight is heartfelt and genuine with the connection between artist and fan unbreakable. It’s the last night of the tour and it would be so easy to phone one in but this is a band still firing at 100% after a gruelling few months.
The band are on good form and it’s the songs that are front and centre with no need for any gimmicks, overly sexualised outfits or heavily choreographed dancing.
On a night of highlights from opener ‘Motion sickness’ through ‘Funeral’ and ‘Kyoto’ it’s a superb example of intelligent indie rock for all ages ending the main set with a barnstrorming version of 'I know the End'. We are even treated to a brand new song to end the night.
Bridgers star is definitely on the rise and I’m sure that this will be the last time she plays venues of this size. A great way to end a busy week of three gigs in four days and all good in their own ways.
Keep on indie rockin’ y’all.