LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: BILMURI AT THE O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN, LONDON 01/04/25 (+ SOUTH ARCADE)
Full photo gallery for South Arcade here
Full photo gallery for Bilmuri here
Dismiss South Arcade as just a TikTok band at your peril. The Oxford natives are on a rollercoaster that currently only goes up and it seems to be a case of right band, right time.
Starting the night two decades ago with '2005', singer Harmony Cavelle channeled every kickass front-woman of the early noughties with impressive vocals and equally as impressive stamina as, joined by guitarist Harry Winks and bassist Ollie Green, the band bounced as one for 75% of their set while drummer Cody Jones kept everything together.
"Let me see a mosh pit with this song." Cavelle urged the crowd as they launch into 'How 2 Get Away With Murder', one of the most recognisable songs for anyone familiar with South Arcade's online presence. Indeed when the question, "Who here has heard of South Arcade?" was asked, a very noticeable majority of the room gave a cheer, contrasting to the scattered woops when the follow-up was asked, requesting those new to the band to identify themselves.
This almost universal recognition isn't by accident. South Arcade are a band that have managed to successfully navigate the fickle and over-saturated online world to grab the attention of a whole new fan base. Posting regular videos from their rehearsal room, demonstrating an inherent understanding of social media marketing and how to create simple but compelling content that has won over a new cohort of young fans.
For those few in the room who are however new to the band, a ruckus version of 'SexyBack' by Justin Timberlake was dedicated to them.
"I'm gonna need those dudes in the middle who know what they're doing to do it a little bit more for me." yelled Cavelle as their newest release 'Supermodels' followed and went down a storm.
'Moth Kids' and 'Riptide' continued the energy before we were told the story of how South Arcade ended up on the stage tonight, Cavelle describing the glee of finding Bilmuri sliding into their DM's to ask for their support on this sold-out tour. "I thought you'd never ask," she grinned, recalling her response to the request.
'Stone Cold Summer' closed the set, a set that covered much of the band's current back catalogue. South Arcade are still relatively early in what looks to be a stratospheric rise, with festival slots stacked up for this summer, catch them pogo-ing onto a stage near you again soon.
On the last night of his European leg of the Motor Tour, the Kentish Town Forum lit up with excitement as Bilmuri (Johnny Franck) graced the stage, enthusiasm at a maximum right from the top of the set.
Bilmuri is the epitome of 'Y'allternative'- not so much a genre of music, more a Midwest emo state of mind. The night began with 'EMPTYHANDED' from Bilmuri's latest of many albums AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS. (You'd better get used to these capital letter titles). The song introduced perfectly the mood of the night; a funky, punchy country-fest.
Gabi Rose on Saxophone and vocals dashed around the stage adding energetic and unique chaos to the proceedings, along with the rest of Franck's live band, who kept the whole show tight.
Getting into the meat of the set, 'FLUORIDEINTHEHARDSELTZERWATER' gets everyone's phone torches up, 'ACOWBOYSHEAVYLOAD' is introduced as a song about taking a massive heaping load on your back and 'TALKIN' 2 UR GHOST' properly brings the emotion.
"London can I get a yeehawww?" Franck requests and London gladly obliges before it is pointed out that this is Bilmuri's biggest headline show ever, yeehawww indeed to that. Despite all the cowboy references, there does seem to be a sort of disconnect between the glorification of Bilmuri's roots in Midwest American, the sound that is influenced by it and his apparent disdain for America, Americans and his home state specifically. Just before '2016 CAVALIERS (Ohio)' Franck begins with the declaration; "I can't stress how much of a shithole Ohio is." Bringing it back to the obligatory pop-punk mantra to openly and loudly hate the shit out of your small town.
The beautiful 'THE END' gets the room singing before Bilmuri insists; "All we need are these shows... and beans on toast." Cue a 'beans on toast' chant, well we couldn't let the Americans have all the clichés tonight, could we?
Words: Imogen Bird
Photos: Florelle Servageon
Full setlist below:
EMPTYHANDED
ALL GAS
ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYMF'INHOG
FLUORIDEINTHEHARDSELTZERWATER
ACOWBOYSHEAVYLOAD
BLINDSIDED
SPINNIN’ YOU AROUND
80/20Skybeef
TOO LATE
TALKIN’ 2 UR GHOST
Pookie Riff
2016 CAVALIERS (Ohio)
BOUTTA CASHEW
LIVIN’ LAUGHIN’ LOVIN’
THE END
STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU
BETTER HELL (Thicc boi)
CORN-FED YETIS