ShareSelf Esteem performing her I Tour This All The Time Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Friday 24th February 2023.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Self Esteem, the name that Rebecca Lucy Taylor adopted to pursue her solo career, was at Rock City on Friday night and to see it as full as it was is testament as to how rapidly she has grown as an artist.
Having released her second album, Prioritise Pleasure in 2021 to unanimous critical acclaim, this gig was the opening night of the third leg of a sell out tour where the demand for tickets has exceeded all expectations.
With a stage lacking in any frills, Taylor with her vocalists/dancers Marged Sion, Levi Heaton, Seraphina Simone with Sophie Galpin commanding her bass and keyboards and Mike Park owning the drums, it was her new album opener that had the crowd screaming to signal the arrival of Britain’s newest bona fide pop star.
Dressed originally in grey suits, their choreography was faultless, the moves at times seductive and hypnotic reminiscent of an early Christine And The Queens. With the set mainly made up entirely of tracks from Prioritise Pleasure the crowd were happy to sing along to the likes of the beat heavy pop banger F…..g Wizardry and the gospel driven Just Kids.
To the sound track of the TV series Happy Valley, suits were changed for crimson body suits and gimp masks for the live debuts of Mother and Love Second. Making sure that the momentum did not drop, Taylor and team never missed a beat as they treated the crowd to life affirming banger after banger paired with slick choreography.
The crowd hung on every word of the part spoken I Do This All The Time but it was the smattering of older offerings such as Girl Crush and main set closer, The Best that sent the crowd wild and on the slower new songs, The 345 and John Elton, there was the opportunity for Taylor to show just how good her vocals really are.
Ending the night with Still Reigning they had delivered an absolute master class in how to put on a flawless pop performance, and for Self Esteem bigger venues certainly beckon.