The Royston Club @ Liverpool O2 Academy / Tuesday 19th November 2024
For a number of years now, Wrexham‘s The Royston Club have been hotly tipped in the indie music world.
Their debut album, “Shaking Hips & Crashing Cars”, finally landed in 2023 to widespread acclaim; wall-to-wall indie anthems showcasing stellar lyricism and musicianship.
So how does it translate to the live stage? We checked out one of the band’s two sold-out shows last week in their second home of Liverpool…
Opening with their latest single, “The Patch Where Nothing Grows”, the reception was testament to The Royston Club’s growth. The crowd sang back every word to the band’s relatively new track in a lively opening, and with more new songs trialled throughout the set, it’s safe to say album 2 is shaping up nicely.
Cold Sweats has been a staple part of the Royston set for years now, but no Cold Sweats in the setlist = no problem… The night was filled with catchy singalongs; a throwback Academy indie performance that some of the genre’s biggest names would have been proud of throughout the noughties and 10’s.
“Believe It Or Not”, “Mariana”, and “Mrs Narcissistic” wouldn’t be out of place at any noughties indie live show during the era’s peak, and The Royston Club are bringing the best of it back in style to the 2020’s, reciprocated by a buoyant crowd.
But it isn’t just the indie floor-fillers that The Royston Club have in their locker. “A Tender Curiosity” showcases the Welsh band’s lyricism at its finest, bringing a softer but poignant element to the live performance. “Cherophobe” likewise, comparable to My Chemical Romance in the build-up and a clear fan favourite.
The set ending picks itself now, ever since being trialled out pre-release as the set closer during Neighbourhood Weekender. “I’m A Liar” has everything; the riff, the build, the singalong chorus. Oh, and the shaking hips, of course.
So do we believe the hype of one of indie’s most highly rated rising bands? Yes, we do.
The Royston Club are the real deal. A tight-knit group with clear talent, from the Libertines-esque stage camaraderie to the confident, vocally impressive showmanship from frontman, Tom Faithfull.
A must-see band, so get to one of their shows before the stages get bigger!
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