Bastille, Ella Eyre NRG Arena November 7, 2014
As a writer, I try and keep up with the times by brushing up on Top 40 artists as much as I can, but like anything else in life, not everything is going to stick. For me, Bastille hadn't stuck, but it's my firm belief that a band should be given the chance to convince you in a live setting before making a final assessment.
That said, things started off wonderfully thanks to their opening act, Ella Eyre. She is, without a doubt, a lit stick of dynamite just waiting to explode. Sure, Eyre is gorgeous and so much fun to watch live, but more importantly she is full of raw talent as a singer and songwriter.
Vocally, she takes after her fellow bluesy-toned English crooner, Adele. But whereas Eyre could belt out ballads left and right, her energy reads more along the lines of Katy Perry when she was back on the Warped Tour. Of course, it doesn't hurt that all of her songs are high-energy, and Eyre has the passion and guts that bands dream of when booking their touring mates.
To be honest, I could have watched her for an hour and a half and not have been bored. However, as Eyre retired for the evening and Bastille's road crew began breaking down and setting up gear, I began to wonder once again what I was about to witness.
By the time the band took the stage around 8:45 p.m., the arena was only about three-quarters of the way full on the floor with less than half of the seats filled, but those who were in attendance seemed so enamored with the group that the size of the crowd seemed entirely irrelevant to the band.
And really, that's the way it should be.
But here's what I quickly learned while watching Bastille -- though the band consists of four talented musicians, something is severely lacking in their music.
For one, it becomes very clear very quickly that the group have a very grandiose approach when it comes to writing music and putting together art direction for their tour. In some ways, it's like sitting through art class and listening to someone try and explain the meaning and point behind what they've created, rather than letting the work speak for itself.
Not only is it frustrating, but also feels forced and, often times, entirely unnecessary.
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