Despite the relatively short amount of time they’ve been on the scene, it’s hard to deny that Years & Years and Olly Alexander have a certain inimitable swagger. And given the applause with which they were greeted as they stepped onto the Bilbao Stage yesterday afternoon, with bassist Mikey and keyboardist Emre preceding Olly Alexander, it’s difficult not to be taken in by the hyperbole and excitement that surrounds this trio at present; especially when it’s all around you.
It can be seen in the legions of fans from all over the world, some of whom have been camped out at the foot of the stage for hours before music began to blare from the top of Kobetamendi Hill; it can be seen in the fervour with which the band’s lyrics are sung back at them, coming from a crowd that bobs and sways almost as one to the tunes they’ve travelled miles to hear; and it can be seen through the fact that on multiple occasions during the set, the gifts presented to Olly rendered him temporarily unable to sing – sometimes due to laughter at the note attached to a Dora the Explorer doll, and sometimes due to apparently genuine speechlessness at the reception from the eclectic crowd.
Above all else though, this was an endearing set, and this was a fun set. Olly’s lithe, carefree, often downright outrageous dancing is something that has become a well noted facet of their shows, and with his genuine pleasure to be interacting with fans, his quips and jokes, and even his ‘cock heart’ shirt and matching headband all increasing the charm he exudes ever further, it’s easy to see how his charm has managed to snag such a varied assortment of die-hard fans in such a short space of time.
The fans, incidentally, also played their part to a tee. Having already mentioned the gifts with which Olly was showered, and which adorned the stage in various perched arrangements throughout the set, failing to mention their unabashed belting of the band’s songs, their readiness to jump up and down in the humid Basque weather, and a certain group’s enthusiasm with the hovering camera above them would be failing to them justice; the gathered masses provided the fun just as effectively as the band.
With a cover of Hotline Bling providing an interlude in a set that was chock-full of the hits that have grown their name so effectively in the last few years including positively deafening renditions of crowd-and-band performed King and Desire, Olly, Mikey and Emre undeniably put on a show that deserves to be toured around Europe, and indeed the rest of the world, which is where they embark next, with a show in Japan later this month.
While it remains to be seen how this young act will grow and develop with time, it’s certain that what we’ve got right now, we’re enjoying, and we hope it stays this good for as long as possible.
Words by Ben Kitto