Eliza and the Bear took all the plaudits at their hometown London show on their short headline I’d Rather Go To Hell tour, on the sixth occasion that my ears had been blessed to hear the London/Essex quartet of friends, who originally began casually making music together many years ago just for the fun of it.
Amongst the oldies but absolute goldies EATB played, the packed out Islington Academy audience were treated to sounds set to feature on their upcoming second album in previously unplayed ‘Real Friends’, as well as ‘Winter in New York’ and ‘Hell’.
Lead singer James Kellegher may have bleached his barnet, but there is thankfully no such drastic change in this bands musical style, prepare for more big anthems that remind you of why you fell in love with this band in the first place.
The charismatic, loveable crowd-pleasing four-piece humorously played a short cover flurry of riffs varying between a plethora of classics including ‘Another One Bites The Dust’, as well as a full cover to Earth Wind And Fire’s ‘September’.
Finishing with It’s Get Cold ironically in the sweatiest but buzziest room I’ve ever experienced as a guy who goes to gigs religiously, it was a party that you wish could have gone on as Lionel Richie would say, all night long.
It’s fair to say that these guys could always pack it all in and just be a successful Earth Wind And Fire tribute band, but as they’ve overcome an on-stage admitted blip with self-doubts on the future of the band, let’s just pray that they’re around for many more years to come to please audiences across the UK of all sizes.
Looking forward to seeing them for the 7th time at 110 Above this August! Bring it on.
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