Suspended in the clammy clutches of some Dickensian-like mist, Leeds University Union shrugged off the hangovers of Halloween and opened its doors to the spectacular Lucy Rose. Shining through the thickening gloom like some spectral but divine light, the moody November night transformed into a magical sunrise: a golden hour of sombre melodies emitting from one truly angelic voice. The enveloping surroundings of Stylus provided the perfect setting for an intimate evening, and you could tell Lucy was genuinely moved and taken aback by the packed crowd’s turnout and support.
Opening the night’s proceedings was Mercury Prize nominated C Duncan, who brought the Celtic folk sounds of his Scottish roots to the gates of Leeds and left his easy going yet melancholy mark imprinted on us all. Following this were the refreshing Flyte who, despite claiming they were rusty after spending time away from the stage and in the studio, showed no evidence of awkwardness; they were tight, boisterous and fun. A diverse performance spearheaded by clever riffs and pitch perfect harmonies kept the crowd in sway as they waited for Lucy, and whilst there were only four members on stage, the overwhelming texture of their songs felt like Flyte had an invisible orchestra hidden behind them. Interactive but not arrogant, Flyte where the ideal support for the humble and sincere performance that Lucy soon emerged to grace us with.
Although technical issues seemed to put Lucy on edge during a somewhat nervous start, she soon settled down into the calm and calculated artist that countless fans have fallen in love with. Bravely beginning her set with the more mellow songs of her repertoire, Lucy lulled her audience into a personal space of close connection. Then, with our hearts now fully in her grasp, she pulled on our puppet strings until we senselessly danced to the rhythms of her more upbeat incantations. The whole night was epitomised in one moment: the beautiful rendition of ‘Like an Arrow’, with Flyte returning to the stage to add a stunning vocal counterpart.
The live performance offered so much more than you’d expect from an artist of Lucy’s genre. With a full band backing her up, Lucy’s live ability has evolved into an all encompassing blend of punchy rock intertwined with light folk roots. Yet this transition has taken nothing away from the delicate way in which Lucy tells her story through her deeply touching songs. And this is what made her emotionally charged show so special. You could see the effect of every drawn out falsetto slowly melting the souls of the audience as well as Lucy herself; although she performed to a whole crowd, every sweet second felt like it was directed solely to you.
Talking to the crowd between songs, Lucy expressed a gratuity in a stirring reflection on what it meant to play the songs that really meant to her. Confessing she had never talked so much at a gig before, it seemed like Lucy could do no wrong, and when a technician tried to cut her encore short due to a loose wire, nothing on Earth would have forced her off the stage. Charming and cheerful, Lucy Rose provided an all too fleeting moment of serenity.
Robert Cairns