Having kicked off the year with the release of their debut album The Good Youth, Nantwich-based Blitz Kids have shot to popularity in recent months. Equipped with pop-punk sensibilities, the band are currently at the forefront of the British rock scene with a dedicated fan base that’s smitten with their straightforward lyrics and shout-out-loud harmonies
Warming up for festival season, this month saw the four-piece play a string of headline shows across the country with friends I Divide and Fort Hope. As appreciative as they were when they first started, the amount of hard work Blitz Kids put into to their live shows didn’t go unnoticed. With their upbeat personalities only emphasized on stage, the guy’s wooed both boys and girls in equal measures at their recent show at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff.
Eager to get the crowd riffled up, the first band of the night was 2013 newcomers Fort Hope. Pierced with an indie-pop sound, the four-piece wasted no time treating fans to a mixture of songs from their forthcoming release COURAGE. Hitting every note, front man Jonathan Gaskin’s vocals stole the limelight as he effortlessly belted out the group’s well-known hits ‘Control’ and ‘The Rapture’. Despite giving it their best, the crowd remained fairly motionless throughout the set. No doubt preparing themselves for the night ahead, we only wish they channeled the sheer amount of energy that dominated Fort Hope’s performance.
Next to hit the stage were Hit The Floor favourites I Divide. Diving right into tracks from their new album, Last One Standing, gritty opener ‘Follow Me’ quickly got the audience pumped. Joining in with vocalist Tom Kavanagh, the song was greeted to a rapturous audience sing-along, where people of all ages jumped in time to the anthemic nature of the track. Slowing down the pace, songs like ‘Cold At The Bottom’ saw fans to wave their hands in time to the music, whereas the punchy ‘Runaway’ involved the crowd getting down and jumping up to the song’s vigorous array of riffs. Offering the audience 30 minutes of pure adrenaline, it’s safe to say I Divide were able to raise the level of anticipation for the night’s headliners.
If there’s one band who never take themselves too seriously its Blitz Kids. Strutting on stage to ‘Sexy Boy’, the theme tune of big-shot WWE wrester Shawn Michaels, the four-piece’s down to earth, lighthearted charisma has made fans across the globe fall for their vivacious charm and boisterous sound. Playing a mixture of songs from their most recent offering, as well as material off their previous EPs, the bands hard-hitting performance proved why they’re this season’s go-getters.
Songs like ‘Run For Cover’ and ‘Perfect’ dominated the room – with their abrupt, rugged harmonies being the epitome of alt rock. Shouting along to the music, the crowd soaked up every second of the lager-than-life sound. Continuing this buzz throughout the whole of the performance, the second to last song ‘Never Die’ allowed stage interaction to really peak as boys and girls erupting into chants. “We’ll never die,” screamed fans as they moved in time to the enthusiasm of the track. Encouraging them more, vocalist Joey James pointed the microphone to the audience, not satisfied until they belted their hearts out.
Having been a band for over six years, when it comes to music Blitz Kids prove practice makes perfect. With a debut album to be proud of and a live set – that highlights their ability to perform together as a well-oiled completely in synch unit of budding musicians – it’s easy to see why they’ve been signed up to play lashings of festivals up and down the country this summer. In their own words with nothing to lose and everything to prove, the only way is up for the Nantwich trailblazers.
