You know that band you like, well you think they are ok but aren’t amazingly fussed to see them live? Yeah well The 2 Bears was that for me.
I shall elaborate, I felt their music would’ve been better suited to a club environment… I was completely wrong, without this turning into a self-deprecating pile of waffle; they were simply immense live.
Playing King Tut’s for some sort of MTV tie in they open with ‘Be Strong’.
The crowd are clearly in the mood to party with the stewards restraining folk from the word go, ‘My Queen’ follows swiftly, mixed in (a recurring theme all night).
The tracks from new album The Night Is Young sound ridiculous live, a more evolved ‘band’ sound to more precise.
It’s helped all the more by Raf Rundall’s delivery and performance, part London geezer part lovable rogue while proclaiming positive love vibes.
The band smash out ‘Get Out’, ‘Angel -Touch Me’ and ‘See You’ before the crowd has a chance to catch its breath.
In all honesty, the only way you could describe it would be a technicolour whirlwind of energy, passion and kids having a great time.
The band are joined by ghosts in drag for some numbers then army drag for others, I’m pretty sure there was a wedding theme and veil (which Joe Goddard sported for most of the gig while passionately bobbing behind synths).
Overall this gig surpassed all of my cynical expectations, a fever paced ride through two albums of good material.
It’s also refreshing that despite the very obvious LGBT connotations, it’s a mixed bag of a crowd that fully get in the spirit.
They play the big ones at the end, ‘Bear Hug’ and ‘Church’ absolutely bring the house down as you would expect.
It’s fair to mention that the recent material is more apt for live performances and tonight definitely vindicates that.
The 2 Bears hugging their way to becoming a phenomenal live act.
Words: Andrew Melrose
Photos: Angela Canavan
