Blossoms performing their Ribbon Around The Bomb Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Saturday 12th November 2022



Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Blossoms were at Rock City on Saturday night and it was a sold out young crowd who were there to welcome them.

Touring to promote their fourth studio album, Ribbon Around The Bomb, this Stockport quintet immediately showed that they are so much more than their biggest hit, Charlemagne. Coming on to the stage with all of the energy and enthusiasm that the crowd have come to expect, they opened with the synth driven Your Girlfriend.

Honey Sweet got the crowd going before Oh No (I Think I’m In Love) showcased some killer vocals from front man Tom Ogden. New song Ode To NYC was exactly what it said on the tin – sights and sounds of a yellow taxi being driven through Manhattan, whilst The Sulking Poet saw a mix of great harmonies.

On the release of each album; the Blossoms have created a different sound which served to produce a real mixed bag of a set list. The Keeper from their 2020 album, Foolish Loving Spaces, was an upbeat gospel crowd pleaser before new song Care For showcased a swelling string riff and disco tinged beat.

But the heart of this band was undoubtedly the impressive Ogden who excelled throughout with his dreamy drawl floating effortlessly around Rock City. Having perfected their tight jaunty sound, low slung groovy bass and dance floor friendly songs, the band are extremely tight.

Guitarist Josh Dewhurst seems at times to be in a world of his own, whilst Myles Kellock on keys sprinkled the magic that defines the band’s sound and Joe Donovan and Charlie Salt’s rhythm section was bold, sharp and effortlessly cool.

Finishing their main set with My Favourite Room, Blossoms had shown how to really have fun. For the encore there was that synth heavy Charlemagne that had the crowd singing and waving arms aloft showing that for them the fun was infectious.

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