ShareBoyce Avenue performing their Road Less Traveled Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Friday 18th March 2016
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
As Boyce Avenue frontman Alejandro Manzano told us during a between song pause, this pop rock trio of brothers have had no radio play or TV promotion, yet here they were playing to a raucous Rock City crowd; having previously supported One Direction and now playing in bigger venues.
Their success is entirely due to having spent four years uploading videos of themselves covering chart hits and racking up tens of millions of views. They fast became the figureheads of the YouTube pop star phenomenon and on the back of that they have been spurred on to release some self-penned material, which was showcased last night before an adoring audience, many of whom were accompanied by their parents.
Manzano and his brothers, Daniel (bass) and Fabian (guitar) were greeted by deafening squeals and screams, as they opened with an original track, I’ll Be The One from their EP, No Limits. Other new tracks were introduced during the set, all of which were well received. Showcasing some brilliant song writing with numbers such as Be Somebody, Cinderella and Perfect Me, whilst Every Breath is a lovely catchy pop rock song which showed just how well they harmonise together.
But it was the covers that got the loudest cheers, as the Foo Fighters’ Everlong and Kings Of Leon’s Use Somebody were given the Boyce Avenue treatment. Shawn Mendes’ Stitches was a particular highlight as was Tracey Chapman’s Fast Car and Adele’s Hello.
For the encore Alejandro walked back onto the stage for a solo piano rendition of On My Way which was very moving, before the brothers joined him for an epic rendition of the Goo Goo Doll’s Iris, before finishing the evening with Anchor.
The covers were great and their original songs heartfelt. It was good that their own material was noticeable and that the number of covers were fewer in number. It may soon be that they are able to fill Rock City and there not be a cover in sight, but until then, Boyce Avenue have exactly the right mix.