A smaller and smiley crowd gathered to watch Toothless perform amongst the fairy lights and disco balls of Brudenell Social Club. Only the fifth show of their first UK tour, there was a lovely rapport between crowd and band, with everyone being encouraged to come closer, and Ed Nash cracking the occasional joke to make everyone feel comfortable enough to dance away to a bit of folktronica.

Liz Lawrence kicked off the evening with a softer, acoustic set. For those who may not recognise Liz’s name, you would most likely recognise her voice. She is half of electro-pop duo Cash+David, has toured with Bombay Bicycle Club and, to top off her many projects, is part of Toothless as well. To see her perform solo, therefore, was refreshing and impressive. Her stage presence is haunting and her vocals crisp; fans of Lucy Rose would flock to see her perform.

Leeds very own The Golden Age of TV followed up next with, first and foremost, an amazingly eclectic mix of dance moves and Hawaiian shirts. Aside from the bands moves, the set was a melodic blend of upbeat indie, with a strong, guitar-driven sound and a confident performance. The band was well put together, the velvety female vocals complimenting the groovy electronic tones and warming the crowd up sufficiently for the main event.

The success of Toothless came from the band’s ability to perform with the strength and standard of a large-scale gig to a smaller-scale crowd. Personal favourites ‘Alright, Alright, Alright’ and the euphoric ‘You Thought I Was Your Friend’ were set to the scene of a funky light show, and a huge energy from the band meant that the tracks were memorable and had that go-back-and-add-it-to-your-playlist value. Nash’s vocals created something of a Bombay Bicycle Club nostalgia, but still sounded overwhelmingly fresh. The band was slick, and it’s hard to imagine that this was only their first tour. With a summer of festivals, such as Live at Leeds and Secret Garden Party ahead of Toothless, I think we can predict a growing popularity that will mean the next Brudenell Social Club show will be equally as good, and probably twice as full.

Amelia Whyman

(Image: DIY)