ShareRudimental performing their We The Generation tour at Rock City on Friday 4th March 2016
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Rudimental’s gig at Rock City to promote their new album, We The Generation, was sold out some time ago, and on last night’s performance if they were to come back, there would be a queue around the block for tickets.
There are four people in this Hackney bred drum ‘n’ bass contingent, but they don’t make a big deal of pushing themselves to the front of the stage. Instead their live sound is made up of a large number of musicians who come and go as they need to, each contributing to a high energy and fast set list.
The band burst onto the stage, firstly through intro music which was so bass heavy, the speakers needed to be restrained, and got straight into opening track Right Here. There was no let-up as Not Giving In followed I Will For Love, before the title track from the new album was given an airing.
To a very enthusiastic crowd which included youngsters and their middle aged babysitting dads, Rudimental drove through the excitable Lay It All On Me, and Love Ain’t Just A Word before treating us to a cover of Ed Sheeran’s Bloodstream.
Each song brought a different singer; each contributing in their own inimitable way. Showcasing Bridgitte Amofah’s blasting holler and Will Heard’s velvet vocals, the evening passed by in a whirl. With up to eleven on stage at one point (there may have been more but they never stood still long enough for them to be counted), each musician brought something to the party. Feel The Love had the audience singing every chorus and bouncing every bassline, whilst the band urged them on.
It was not hard to see why the likes of Ella Eyre, John Newman, and Emeli Sande want to work with Rudimental; their energy is infectious and addictive. By the time Waiting All Night arrived, the audience were gasping for a breather, but ready to do it all again.