Live Review: Rat Boy // Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, 26.09.16

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RATBOY aka Jordan Cardy has been wowing audiences with energetic live performances. Formed after getting the sack from Wetherspoons, he has created a host of indie floor fillers while lyrically observing the struggle of a young Brit trying to get by on no money. He takes influences from The Beastie Boys, and The Libertines, which combine into a hyperactive musical riot. Frequent comparisons with Jamie T, and his relatable lyrical content has seen his reputation soar, including a tour with Circa Waves and a slot at this year’s Reading Festival. He and his bandmates arrived at the  packed out Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth and it was the perfect place for a lively, raucous show.

It’s not often you see a moshpit to a support band, but when Bad Sounds took to the stage, the atmosphere was both drunken fuelled and rowdy. The lo-fi indie poppers from Bath have a sound reminiscent of Blur, the crowd lapped up their strong synth-laden hooks and catchy choruses, setting things up nicely.

If the atmosphere for Bad Sounds was chaotic, then the anticipation for RATBOY was taken up a notch with air raid sirens, the crowd chanting “We are scum!” and smoke filling the air. RATBOY come onstage and launch into ‘Move’. This fired everyone up, with a mass singalong, and Cardy throwing two giant cigarettes, which surfed over the crowd.

It’s evident from the energetic vibe onstage that the band love playing live. Bassist Liam Haygarth, guitarist Harry Todd, and drummer Noah Booth, (who gets a standing ovation from the crowd) all create a tight unit and have the ability to surprise you. The audience bounced through ‘Turn Around Mate’ and ‘Knock Knock’, while a personal highlight was the ska-influenced ‘Wasteman’. During the latter track, Cardy orders the crowd to “split it down the middle” and they respond with opening up a huge pit, bouncing and singing every word, it was a privilege to witness.

Despite the tight security presence, Cardy let fans onstage for some stage invasions, during ‘Fake I.D.’ and ‘Sign On’. These were actually the most raucous songs of the set, with Cardy getting the crowd to jump in unison. During ‘Sign On’, everyone is screaming back the lyrics word for word, while Cardy cheekily ordered the crowd to “Get on someone’s shoulders – security love that too!”

Unusually, the band  played ‘Move’ in the encore again. However, it worked a treat, with the crowd going every bit as mental as the first time, rounding off a superb boisterous show, winning new fans in the process.

Words by Ermis Madikopoulos

 

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