All Photos Copyright KCL
The one-man band phenomenon blends blues melodies with electronic dance music for a night of celebration and joy.
Friendly chatter fills the inside of Clwb Ifor Bach, with Dan Turnbull the mastermind behind Funke and the Two Tone Baby, happily stood by the bar talking with fans before the show. His relaxed manner welcomed them over, allowing the concert to have a personal feeling, where each fan could dance and cheer along to his music as he matched their energy on stage.
Before his set could begin, Wet Paint warmed up the crowd with a folk-rock set. The four-piece band all sat on stools with their instruments, taking turns to announce which one of the singer-songwriters was responsible for the next tune and joking with each other on stage. They regularly switched who was the lead singer and joined together for soaring four-part harmonies in the choruses. From slower folk ballads to upbeat blues songs filled with guitar and harmonica solos, the group created a joyous sound filling the venue and getting the whole crowd to cheer and tap along.
F.T.T.B takes to the stage and swiftly builds his first song using a looping pedal. Layering guitar chords, drumbeats, and keyboard synths, he can freely sing the lyrics over the top of his song. His energy is infectious as he darts around his setup, making the show enjoyable for all, whether you are familiar with his music or not
. The tour supports his latest album ‘Reacclimate’, with yellow merchandise side of the stage available for the crowd to buy, many of which are already decked out in a variety of yellow items and accessories. He informs the crowd that he is going to play through the albums in its entirety, before playing a few of his previous hits. F.T.TB mixes a wide range of genres, with songs such as ‘Can’t Stop the Music’ having a blues tone, with raspy vocals, harmonica, and rhythmic guitar solos, adding to the piece’s groove.
As ‘One in a Million’ focuses more on electro dance music, with bouncy synth loops, vocal effects, and small beat drops before each chorus encouraging the crowd into a frenzy. He takes a break from the upbeat electro songs from his album to share a moving tribute to his late girlfriend, revealing the reason for the yellow album and tour theme as it was her favorite colour, going on to play ‘Ani’s Song’. Both the artist and much of the crowd are brought to tears by the end of the song, and Turnball is met with cheers as people wipe their eyes.
Resuming the upbeat electric dance music, F.T.T.B finishes up his album set and moves onto hits such as ‘Not Enough Bonobo’ to finish his performance, leaving his setup to march to the front of the stage and lead a sing-along, and getting the whole crowd jumping. Entering the swarming crowd, he is lifted by the fans as he continues to sing, a shock for all involved, yet the playful scene perfectly shows the appreciation of the crowd for Turnbull’s talent. A perfect ending for an emotional rollercoaster of a show.
Emily Powell-Chandler
